Lakehawk Beach Volleyball Takes Fourth at Nationals
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Beach Volleyball) – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) Beach Volleyball took third at the 2025 NJCAA Beach Volleyball Championship. After defeating State College of Florida (SCF) the night before, the Lakehawks were back on the courts the next morning to face the Manatees for the first round of the Championship Bracket.
After falling 2-0 from the ones and fives pair, the Lakehawk fours and twos pairs tied the score a 2-2. Down to the threes duel, with just a few points to go, Lake-Sumter was edged out by SCF, losing 3-2.
SCF 3, LSSC 2 (in order of finish)
No 1 – E. Acedo Lapieza/A. Wrobel def. Sophia Cooper and Braelyn Mittauer, 24-22, 21-15
No. 5 – B. Guerrero/A. Spainhower def. Rylee Martineau and Sydney Pickle, 21-10, 21-13
No. 4 – Mariana Comartin and Brooke Walker def. I. Cardenas/S. Pillow, 21-16, 21-14
No. 2 – Madeline Noel and Emma Van Deusen def. A. Beaver/N. Leonard, 21-7, 19-21, 15-8
No. 3 – L. Kucinskaite/M. McGuirse def. Cecilia Calton and Audrey Pickle, 21-19, 14-21, 12-15
The Mantees moved on to the Championship Match while the Lakehawks dropped to play the third place match against Mesa Community College.
The Lakehawks played a tight match against the Thunderbirds, but fell short at very last point, 3-2.
Mesa 3, Lake-Sumter 2 (in order of finish)
No. 5 – S. Palmer/S. Ward def. Martineau and S. Pickle, 21-19, 21-19
No. 1 – Cooper and Mittauer def. M. Avechuco/M. Ward, 21-16, 19-21, 15-13
No. 2 – B. Barris/I. Folau def. Noel and Van Deusen, 17-21, 21-13, 10-15
No. 4 – Comartin and Walker def. M. Bingham/K. Pew, 17-21. 21-17, 15-8
No. 3 – B. Anderson/K. Arnett def. Calton and A. Pickle, 22-20, 18-21, 12-15
Lake-Sumter took fourth place for the second consecutive year, and made out of the weekend with a 4-2 record to finish the 2025 season with a 12-16 overall record.
Head coach Neal Stanley shared his thoughts on the season reaching its conclusion, "This year was so special to me. We started with a group of athletic ladies that were curious about this sports and we ended with a group of high level beach volleyball players."
"This team was a few points away from playing for a national championship. Their love of the sport was only matched by their love for each other; it was a season I never wanted to end."
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