Catawba College of North Carolina edged Wayne State 3-2 Sunday afternoon in the title match of the Copper Bracket at the 2026 AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Wildcats end the year at 12-8, going 2-4 at the AVCA Tournament, while the Indians have an 11-19 record.
Three of the five matches went all three sets with a fourth needing extra points in the second set to determine a winner.
Wayne State's #3 pairing of
Reese Johnson and
Mattie Kamery recorded a win in extra points over Catawba's Peyton Fendley and Sidney Kettelkamp 21-15, 22-20 to end the AVCA Championships with four straight wins.
The other Wildcat victory came from the 2s duo of
Channatee Robles and
Chloe Hanel, who rallied for an 18-21, 21-11, 15-11 win over Lily Landis and Eliza Liva of Catawba.
Wayne State's 4 and 5 pairings both saw their matches go all three set before Catawba came back in the third set to post wins.
Ella Myler and
Molly Romano in the 4s suffered a 21-17, 12-21, 15-7 defeat to Alleigh Johnson and Valentina Rodriguez from Catawba while in the 5s match it was
Mia Berg and
Delaney Miller falling 23-21, 19-21 and 15-8 to Lauren Bodell and Mae Henning of Catawba.
The other results in the 1s pairing saw Wayne State's
Taylor Bunjer and
Anna Borner fall 21-17, 21-13 to Emma Christensen and Marcella Hermont from Catawba.
Wayne State ends the 2026 season with a winning record in beach volleyball for the fifth straight season, finishing at 12-8 overall.
Beach Volleyball Match Results
Catawba College (NC) vs. Wayne State (Neb.)
4/19/2026 at Gulf Shores, Ala.
(Gulf Shores Beach)
Catawba College (NC) 3, Wayne State (Neb.) 2
- Emma Christensen/Marcella Hermont (CAT) def. Anna Borner/Taylor Bunjer (WSC) 21-17, 21-13
- Channatee Robles/Chloe Hanel (WSC) def. Lily Landis/Eliza Liva (CAT) 18-21, 21-11, 15-11
- Reese Johnson/Mattie Kamery (WSC) def. Peyton Fendley/Sidney Kettelkamp (CAT) 21-15, 22-20
- Alleigh Johnson/Valentina Rodriguez (CAT) def. Ella Myler/Molly Romano (WSC) 21-17, 12-21, 15-7
- Lauren Bodell/Mae Henning (CAT) def. Mia Berg/Delaney Miller (WSC) 23-21, 19-21, 15-8
Match Notes:
Catawba College 11-19
Wayne State College 12-8
