Beach Update: Zilch, Gentry win 2024 Beach Collegiate Challenge

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 17, 2024) – This week’s beach update recaps the Beach Collegiate Challenge at Stevenson University and two Beach Pro Tour Futures events that resulted in a silver medal heading back to the U.S. Then, we take a look at two more futures events on the calendar.

2024 Men’s Beach Collegiate Challenge

Matthew Gentry (Lincoln Memorial) and Quin Zilch (Lewis) took gold at the 2024 Men’s Beach Collegiate Challenge at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Md. This was the fourth installment of the annual Beach Collegiate Challenge and it featured 32 of the best U.S. men’s collegiate beach volleyball pairs.

Gentry/Zilch defeated defending 2023 champions Ayden Keeter and Carson Barnes (Webber) 2-1 in the final (17-21, 21-9, 15-11).

William Kuhns and Ryan Merk (Penn State) defeated Mason Andrade and Jacob Labouliere (Wentworth) in the bronze medal match to fill out the podium positions.

Full event results 

Futures Bujumbura

Kelly Kool and Tiffany Svennsohn took silver at BPT Futures Bujumbura on Sept. 11-14 in Burundi. Kool/Svenssohn reached the final after earning a bye and winning three straight matches.

In the quarterfinals, the U.S. duo defeated Gaudencia Makokha and Brackcides Khadambi (KEN) 2-0 (21-7, 21-11), which put them in the semifinals vs. Elisavet Triantafyllidi and Dimitra Manavi (GRE). Kool/Svenssohn advanced to the final with a 2-0 win (21-15, 21-18).

In the final, Miharu Kashihara and Izumi Ishihara (JPN) defeated Kool/Svenssohn 2-0 (21-17, 23-21).

Futures Quingdao

Futures Quingdao marked the conclusion of back-to-back BPT Futures events in China for the month of September following Futures Qidong the previous week.

Molly Phillips and Jade Race were the lone U.S. pair in the main draw. Phillips/Race went 1-1 in pool play, earning a Round of 12 matchup with Bing Bai and Fan Wang (CHN). Bai/Wang defeated Phillips/Race 2-1 (13-21, 22-20, 15-10) and the U.S. pair tied for ninth.

Futures Turkiye and Spain

The next two futures events run parallel once again this week with BPT Futures Castellon de la Plana, Spain (Women only) and BPT Futures Balikesir, Turkiye.

Futures Castellon de la Plana begins Sept. 18 and runs through Sept. 21. The U.S. will be represented by pairs Maddie Anderson and Brook Bauer, Melissa Powell and Lindsey Calvin, and Katie Lindstrom and Charlie Ekstrom.

Anderson/Bauer are coming off a gold medal in their last international event together at BPT Futures Halifax at the end of August. Anderson most recently competed in the FISU World University Championships where she made it to the quarterfinals with Michelle Shaffer.

Futures Balikesir begins Sept. 19 and concludes Sept. 22. The U.S. will be represented by Jessica McGuire/Logan Beitler.

AVP League

The New York Nitro won all four matches in the inaugural week of the AVP league at UCLA.

The Nitro squad features Paris 2024 Olympians Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes partnered with fellow U.S. Beach National Team athletes Taylor Crabb and Taylor Sander

Hughes/Cheng began the weekend by earning a 15-13, 16-14 victory over the Brooklyn Blaze team and U.S. Beach National Team pair of Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft. Hughes/Cheng followed that up with a second victory on Sunday (17-15, 15-9) over the LA Launch and U.S. Beach National Team pair Julia Scoles and Betsi Flint.

Crabb/Sander defeated Cody Caldwell and Seain Cook of the Brooklyn Blaze, 15-10, 15-11. They went on to win again on Sunday vs. the Launch’s Tim Bomgren and Troy Field 2-1 (14-16, 17-15, 15-12).

The AVP league format features shorter sets to 15 rather than the standard 21. The second week of the AVP league takes place Sept. 21-22 at the Hard Rock Tennis Center in Miami, Florida.

Sponcil to Mojo

2020 Tokyo Olympian Sarah Sponcil is returning to Southern California to continue her indoor career.

The San Diego Mojo of the Pro Volleyball Federation announced on Tuesday that the team is signing Sponcil for the 2025 season. Sponcil played as a libero/setter last season for the Grand Rapids Rise.

Sponcil competed with partner Kelly Cheng at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where the U.S. pair finished tied for ninth.

“It is an honor and privilege to be joining the San Diego Mojo,” Sponcil said in a statement released by the team. “Having played against the Mojo during the PVF’s inaugural season, the team’s sports IQ, skill, teamwork and determination on the court was obvious. I am honored to be a part of that team and looking forward to getting back on the hardwood, learning from the best, and help bring a championship to the Mojo.”