COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 20, 2024) – After six days of great volleyball competition, the U.S. Beach National Championship concluded July 17 after crowning winners in 11 different divisions.
18U Boys
Spencer Smith, a member of the 2024 U.S. Beach U19 National Team, won gold in both the boys 18U and 16U divisions, albeit with different partners. In 18U, he paired with fellow Beach U19 National Team athlete George Stevens for the title. Smith/Stevens lost just one set in the tournament, and that came in the semifinal match against eventual fourth-place finishers Lukas Christman and Jonathan Maguire. Smith/Stevens won that match, 21-15, 17-21, 15-10.
Smith won the 14U boys title last year with Luis Campo (14U winner again this year), and Stevens won 16U with Brock Harvick.
“I came into this week with an expectation,” Smith said. “Rolling into 18s, I prepared the body well, (gave) myself everything I need, and I’m really happy that I came out and executed to the best of my ability with George in 18s. I’m very pleased with that.”
Stevens was excited to win again.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I won last year so I wanted to come back for another dub, and Spencer won 16s (this year) so we were trying to get him another one as well. I don’t want to feel like I left anything on the table. I want to say I tried as hard as I could.”
In the final, Smith/Stevens met up with Tyler Moore/Mason Townley, who were 5-1 in pool play. Smith/Stevens won 21-18, 21-19. The bronze medal went to Connor Jarnagan/Noah Kaoni, who defeated Christman/McGuire, 12-21, 21-14, 15-9 for the medal.
18U Open Girls
Clara Evans/Izzy Masten did not lose a set en route to the 18U Open title. Evans has verbally committed to play beach at TCU, and Masten has committed to Pitt for indoor. In the final, they defeated Isabella Pereira and Delaney Rich, 21-13, 21-18.
“It’s very exciting,” Evans said. “I’m so glad we got to this point and worked so hard for it.”
Masten agreed.
“It feels amazing,” she said. “I’m just so thankful for my teammates and everybody who has helped me in my volleyball journey.”
Brianna Luoma/Bella Troncale defeated Juliana Johnson/Allison Spittal, 21-10, 21-7, for bronze.
18U American Girls
The 18 American title went to Madeline Lee/Samantha Rodriguez, who defeated Aubrie Jo Benney/Taylor Germann, 21-17, 21-7 for gold. Alexa Smith/Sarah Smith defeated Sarah McDonnell/Avery Simon for third, 21-11, 21-14.
16U Boys
Before he won 18U Boys, Spencer Smith teamed up with Cole Ducote to win 16U Boys. In the final, Smith/Ducote defeated Luis Eduardo Campo/Dylan Hand, 21-15, 21-19.
Smith/Ducote just lost one set in the tournament in a 19-21, 21-12, 15-8 semifinal win over Peter Debiec and Blake Marshall. The latter pair finished fourth after losing to Landon Arnold/Elvio Begic in the bronze medal match.
16U Open Girls
Elena Lam and Elaina Millaway teamed up for the first time and won gold in 16U Open girls. In the final, they defeated Allie Hepworth/Sydney Sutter, 21-17, 21-15.
“It feels really good,” said Millaway about winning the title. “It feels good to do it with Elena. It’s our first time playing together, so I’m glad we were able to pull out a W.”
Lam, who turned 17 on the same day she won the title, agreed.
“I’m full of gratitude,” she said. “Last year I got a third, so my goal was to get the gold this year.”
Lam added that dreams of winning the NCAA national championship motivates her every day.
“That’s my biggest goal. I want to get that one and all these little goals are just small steps toward that.”
Third place went to Christy Boulware/Clara Evans, who defeated Alana Joiner and Lilliana Seldat, 21-15, 21-9, in the bronze medal match.
16 American Girls
With 44 teams, 16 American was a competitive and exciting division. Nafanua Alofipo/Isa Taylor made their way through the tournament without losing a set. In the final, they defeated Kaylee Molina/Cynthia Orona in a rematch of a pool play meeting.
After having lost three pool play matches, Molina/Orona won four straight matches in the gold bracket to reach the final against Alofipo/Taylor.
Mia Stevens/Addison West won bronze with a 21-14, 21-12 win over Callie Hopkins/Ansley Popple.
14U Boys
Luis Campo/Collin Tullis defeated Warren Jones/Samuel Petzoldt for gold in 14 Boys, 21-15, 21-12. They advanced to the final with a 21-9, 21-17 win over Camden Berry/Aiden Tran.
Campo is now a two-time winner at the U.S. Beach Championship. In 2023, he won 14U with Spencer Smith. Tullis won 12U Boys last year with Luca Marcello.
“My family motivates me to fight hard, to keep going everyday,” Campo said. “My biggest inspiration is my parents. Every day they tell me to fight, keep pushing, never give up, keep going, and trust the process.”
Tullis had some advice for all athletes.
“Don’t take anything for granted because you never know what could happen,” he said.
Berry/Tran finished fourth after losing a hard-fought three-set battle in the bronze medal match to Daniel Castro/Lucas Castro, 21-16, 18-21, 15-13)
14U Open Girls
Caitlin Carrizales and Sage Illian collected gold in 14U Open with a 21-18, 21-14 win over Skyler Smith/Sadie Stafford.
“It feels so good. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s definitely a dream come true,” Carrizales said.
For her part, Illian shouted out the people who inspire her.
“Sara Hughes and my dad. The Olympic players show great leadership and effort and are … great to look up to,” she said.
Elyse Smelcer and Danica Waterman were third with a 21-16, 21-11 win over Emma Burnside/Alexa Turoff.
14U American Girls
Forty-eight teams competed in 14 American, making it the largest division at the championship. Norah Beran/Katie Callahan swept through the division without losing a set to win gold. In the final, they defeated Payton Germann/Lucy Wanserski, 21-19, 21-18.
Olivia Breazeale/Rivers Dedeaux defeated Hope Rockwell/Karsen Sheehan, 28-24, for bronze.
12U Open Girls
Danella Dos Santos/Emiliana Duque are the new 12U champions after a 21-14, 21-12 win over Kristina Bataeva/Alice Chen. The victory avenged an earlier loss in pool play, when Bataeva/Chen were 21-16 winners.
Zander Anderson/Julie Ramos won bronze in an epic bronze medal match, defeating Mia Bergoudian/Gillian Dormeier, 19-21, 21-15, 15-13.
Dos Santos and Duque brought an international flair to 12 Open; Dos Santos is from Peru and Venezuela, and Duque was born in Colombia.
“The feeling is great,” said 11-year-old Duque. “I’m super happy from all the support from my family and friends.”
She said her family keeps her motivated because they “never say no to a tournament.”
“My dad…I’m so grateful for him because he brings me to every practice and supports me unconditionally,” she said.
Dos Santos said it was her first time winning so it feels really good. She credits her sisters for her motivation and inspiration.
“Having my sisters being mean to me (motivates me) because it makes me stronger, I guess,” she laughed. But she added her sister was also her biggest inspiration. “Every time I watch her play, it makes me a better person and a better player. I see it, I vision it, I play it.”
12U American Girls
Hartlie Bowman and Lily Hassel won 12 American with a 21-17, 21-9 win over Lola Moran/Ainsley Stuff. Presley Neslage/Addison Saylor won bronze over Olivia Brockmann/Amelia Markwardt in the third-place match.