TAVARES, Fla. (Beach Volleyball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) beach volleyball team competed in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Championship over the weekend. The Lakehawks competed among NCAA Division III teams and took first in the silver bracket earning fifth overall in the tournament.

Day One – Pool Play

On Saturday, in pool play, no. 8 seed Lake-Sumter faced the no. 1 seed, reigning champs, Stevenson University. The Lakehawks fell to the Mustangs 3-0 in a very competitive match.

No. 1 pair Kaylin McCann and Cassidy Rountree fell in two sets to the Mustangs' No. 1s, 19-21, 10-21. No. 4 pair Jayden Ponsford and Leslie Catlett lost in two sets, 18-21, 16-21.

No. 2 pair Yarelis Lopez Osorio and Kaylee Hunt lost in a close three set dual, 12-21, 21-17, 10-15.

In their second pool play match, Lake-Sumter faced the no. 5 seed University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. In five duals, the Lakehawks fell to The Cru 3-2.

No. 1s McCann and Rountree won in two sets, 21-16, 22-20. No. 5 pair Berklee Andrews and Alanis Figueroa Rivera also won in two sets, 21-11, 21-8.

No. 2s Lopez Osorio and Hunt fell in two sets 17-21, 13-21. No. 3 pair Alyssa Guarino and Leanne Blue also fell in two sets 18-21, 18-21.

Mary Hardin-Baylor secured their third dual win over Lake-Sumter at the No. 4 spot, 7-21, 16-21.

Day Two – Silver Bracket Championship

Now in the silver bracket, the Lakehawks opened the day against the University of Lynchburg. The Lakehawks defeated the Hornets 3-2 to advance to the Silver Bracket Championship match.

In the No. 1 spot, McCann and Rountree fell to the Hornet pair in two sets, 15-21, 14-21. No. 2s Lopez Osorio and Hunt also fell in two close sets, 19-21, 18-21.

No. 3s Guarino and Blue won 21-4, 21-16. No. 5s Andrews and Figueroa Rivera were the second win for the Lakehawks defeating the Lynchburg No. 5s 21-8, 21-13.

The match came down to No. 4s Ponsford and Catlett. They defeated the Lynchburg pair in three sets, 17-21, 21-14, 15-8.

Lake-Sumter met with Mary Hardin-Baylor again and was able to earn redemption over The Cru winning in five duals, 3-2.

No. 2s Lopez Osorio and Hunt felt in two sets 11-21, 10-21. No. 3s Guarino and Blue were Lake-Sumter second dual loss in three sets, 21-16, 21-13, 15-5.

No. 1 pair McCann and Catlett won in two sets, 21-11, 21-10. No. 5 pair Andrews and Figueroa Rivera won in two sets, 22-20, 21-18.

No. 4 pair Catlett and Ponsford clinched the match for the Lakehawks with a two-set win over the Cru pair, 21-16, 24-22.

The Lakehawks went 2-2 on the weekend to win the silver bracket and take fifth overall in the tournament.

Up next for the Lakehawks

The Lakehawks will play at Tavares this upcoming weekend, April 20-22, for 2023 NJCAA Beach Volleyball Championship. Lake-Sumter will enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed.

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