TAVARES, Fla. (April 16, 2022) – For the second consecutive season, the Spring Hill College (SHC) Sandy Badgers beach volleyball team fell in the finals of the NCAA Division II Gold Bracket of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Championships at Hickory Point Beach.

The Badgers opened the day by taking a stunning 3-2 victory in the semifinals over the Eagles (22-5) of Concordia University-Irvine when the Nos. 4 and 5 Courts rallied from down 1-0 after the first set to take their second and tie-breaking sets.

The Colorado Mesa (CMU) Mavericks (16-10) took an early 2-0 lead by winning on Courts 4 & 5, but the Badgers rallied to take Court 3 before a final 21-18, 22-20 loss on Court 2 handed the title to CMU.

Spring Hill College 3, Concordia University (Calif.) 2
1. Kassandra Fairly / Jessica Fairly (SHC) def. Hannah Phair / Vanessa Bernzen (CUI) 14-21, 21-16, 18-16
2. Hailee Ryan / Sara Ostijic (CUI) def. Mikayla Boyer / Natalie Bonner (SHC) 20-22, 21-12, 15-8
3. Shannon Evans / Tatum Smith (CUI) def. Leanne Sorrel / Kyla Shappell (SHC) 21-17, 21-16
4. Brooke Borgmeyer / Linnea Beger (SHC) def. Isabella Bush / Ellie Cary (CUI) 18-21, 21-16, 18-16
5. Briley Jane Becker / Emily Weinzapfel (SHC) def. Eva Prewitt / Nicole Miller (CUI) 17-21, 21-13, 15-12

Colorado Mesa 3, Spring Hill College 1
1. K. Fairly / J. Fairly (SHC) vs. Hahni Johnson/Savannah Spitzer (CMU) unfinished
2. Holly Schmidt / Macie Lachemann (CMU) def. Boyer / Bonner (SHC) 21-18, 22-20
3. Sorrel / Shappell (SHC) def. Megenhardt / Hall (CMU) 21-12, 21-14
4. Ara Norwood / Sierra Hunt (CMU) def. Borgmeyer / Beger (SHC) 21-12, 21-18
5. Sabrina VanDeList / Tye Wedhorn (CMU) def. Becker / Weinzapfel (SHC) 21-17, 23-21

Following the match with CMU, Kassandra and Jessica  Fairly were named 2022 All America selections. This marks the second time around for Kassandra who also won the honor in 2021.

The Badgers finished as the national runner-up with 23-9 record after reaching the finals for the second consecutive season and the semifinals for the fourth straight tournament.