Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sept. 8, 2022) – Thirty-two men’s beach teams are in Owings Mills, Md., this weekend for the premier men’s college beach event in the country, the USA Volleyball Men’s Beach Collegiate Challenge at Stevenson University.
Stevenson is a fitting host as the Mustangs made history last weekend as the first NCAA varsity men’s beach volleyball team to compete. The program hosted a tri-match with the University of Delaware and Towson. Webber University, which has eight athletes competing this weekend, has a men’s beach collegiate team at the NAIA level.
Now in its second year, the Men’s Beach Collegiate Challenge lets athletes represent their schools as the sport continues to grow throughout the country. Members of the NTDP Beach Scouting Network will evaluate participating athletes for an opportunity to be invited to future National Team Development Program (NTDP) events.
The tournament starts Friday afternoon with all teams playing two matches in round-robin pool play. Pool play continues Saturday morning, and the top three teams from each pool (24 teams) advance to a single-elimination knockout bracket Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
Seven Division I or Division II men’s (indoor) volleyball programs have athletes competing this weekend: UCLA, St. Francis University, Lewis University, McKendree University, Lincoln Memorial University, Penn State University, and the University of Charleston.
Seven competitors are already part of the Beach National Team Development Program. Jackson Arnold, Ryan Merk, Asa LaBreche, Tate Colebaugh, Zadyn Labreche and Robert Nardoni have all participated in the NTDP Training Series. Michael Valenzi was named to the 2022 Beach Collegiate National Team.
Play begins at noon Eastern Friday. The main draw will run September 11-12.
Entries
Carlos Jimenez/Jackson Arnold, Webber University
Michael Valenzi/Ryan Merk, Penn State University
Asa LaBreche/Tate Colebaugh, Lincoln Memorial University
Peyten Young/Wesley Blazek, Webber University
Zadyn LaBreche/Jacob Miller, Lincoln Memorial University
Kody Rogan/Hank Foglia, Randolph-Macon University
John Luers/Diego Clark-Kieth, Lincoln Memorial University
Sean Carlson/Vaughn McConnell, Arcadia University
Tim Flanagan/Ryan Thenell, Stevenson University
Johnny Ferraro/Matthew Edwards, St. Francis University/UCLA
Kevin Schuele/ Robert Nardoni, McKendree University
Andrew Guaragno/Justin Tuohy, Vassar College/Rutgers University (Newark)
Benjamin Gerdeman/Grant Lorelli, Juniata College
Gavin Van Beveren/Payne Lounsbery, Vassar College
Cole Bogner/Will Kuhns, Penn State University
Jarrett Carrano/Kolby Gibson, Randolph-Macon University
Toby Clark/Nick Villamil, Vassar College
Daniel Ellison/Tate Jones, North Carolina State University
Brian Farrell/Doug Hines, Stevenson University
Colton Fitzgerald/Joshua Culpepper, Liberty University
Jason Gibbs/Kevin Kauling, Lewis University
Brett Gould/Dan Gould, University of Rhode Island
Dallas Hitchins/Samuel Pearish, Webber University
Jay Hyman/Justin Novoa, Stevenson University
Kevin Kouchoukos/Minh Nguyen-Christenson, Stevenson University
Kyle Mitchell/Jacob Chapman, Webber University
Adian O’Brien/Jack Braverman, Stevenson University
Vaughn Ramsey/Jacob Kim, Vassar College
Joseph Sarmuksnis/Micah Ernest, Stevenson University
Drew Steinmetz/Damien Cole, Campbellsville University
Ian Vazquez/Jake Vorburger, University of Charleston
Diego Villafane/Garret Schnitker, University of Charleston