Lakehawk Beach Volleyball Takes Second at Inaugural State Tournament
Beach Volleyball Championship Page
BRADENTON, Fla. (Beach Volleyball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) beach volleyball team competed in the inaugural Florida College System Activities Association / National Junior College Athletic Association (FCSAA/NJCAA) Region 8 Beach Volleyball Championship over the weekend. The Lakehawks took second place to earn an automatic bid to the first-ever NJCAA sponsored national tournament at the end of April.
On Friday, the Lakehawks' first match of the weekend was against No. 3 seed St. Johns River State College (SJRSC). Lake-Sumter fell to the Vikings 3-1 dropping to the loser's bracket.
The Lakehawks played right away after their loss against the No. 4 seeded State College of Florida (SCF). Lake-Sumter took the match in three sets eliminating SCF from the tournament and moving on to day two of the championship.
LSSC and SJRSC met again in the semi-final after the Vikings lost to Palm Beach State in the winner's bracket game on day one. Out for revenge, the Lakehawks defeated SJRSC 3-1 eliminating them from the tournament.
Lake-Sumter faced the undefeated Palm Beach State in the championship match. The Lakehawks fell to the Panthers 3-0 but were able to clinch an automatic bid to the national championship.
The Lakehawks had four players receive All-State recognition. Alyssa Guarino and Kaylee Hunt were named to the All-FCSAA second team.
No. 2 pair Cassidy Rountree and Kaylin McCann were named to the All-FCSAA Pairs team.
Lake-Sumter and Palm Beach State punched two Region 8 tickets to the 2023 NJCAA Beach Volleyball Championship which will be held at Hickory Point in Tavares, Fla. from April 20-22.
The tournament will be comprised on 12 teams with three at-large bids available to the six remaining member colleges across the country.
Up next for the Lakehawks
The Lakehawks will prepare for the AVCA Pairs Championship on April 16 and 17 held at Hickory Point in Tavares, Fla.
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