GULF SHORES, Ala. – The seven-seed Saint Leo University beach volleyball team opened play at the 2025 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Volleyball Championships on Thursday. The Lions began the championship paired with the six-seed Spring Hill and the 18-seed McKendree in pool play. Saint Leo went 1-1 on the day with a pair of 3-0 decisions, earning the win over McKendree before falling to Spring Hill in the second match of the day. Saint Leo also had a pair participate in the pairs challenge as Madison Moore and Josie Villareal represented the Green & Gold and went 1-1.
 
The pair's challenge opened the day as Moore and Villareal went 1-1. The duo opened the day with a loss to Colorado Mesa's Laren Rohlwing and Stormi Tadlock, 21-10, 21-18. The Lions pair closed out the challenge with a 21-11 and 21-17 victory over Tusculum's Sofia Richmond and Lindy Carter.
 
Saint Leo opened the pool play with a 3-0 victory over McKendree with wins from the four, five, and three pairs. The fours pair of Kayla David and Erin Johnson held their opponent to just 11 total points over the two-set victory. David and Johnson closed out the win with a 21-2 second set to put the Lions up 1-0. Emma Laade and Reagan Hopp continued their hot run with a 21-15 and 21-11 two-set victory to put the Lions up 2-0. Saint Leo clinched the match with a 21-11 and 21-18 win by the number three pair of Brenna Reinhard and Paula Perez-Rosales.
 
Saint Leo battled a tough fight in the second match of the day, falling to Spring Hill 3-0. The opponents took victories at numbers three, two, and five to prevent the Lion from a 2-0 day. Laade and Hopp rallied for a second-set victory to force a tiebreaker set but ultimately fell 18-16 in the third set.
 
PAIRS CHALLENGE
1. Lauren Rohlwing/Stormi Tadlock (CMU) def. Madison Moore/Josie Villarreal (SLU) 21-10, 21-18
2. Madison Moore/Josie Villarreal (SLU) def. Sofia Richmond/Lindy Carter (TU) 21-11, 21-17
 
(7) Saint Leo 3, (18) McKendree 0
1. Jeanette Henderson/Emma Miller (SLU) vs. Megan Diercks/Brooke Junker (MCKB)
2. Tajma Muharemovic/Oliwia Durka (SLU) vs. Amber Williams/Kiley Schanuel (MCKB)
3. Brenna Reinhard/Paula Perez Rosales (SLU) def. Liliana Wilkerson/Bailey Williams (MCKB) 21-11, 21-18
4. Kayla David/Erin Johnson (SLU) def. McKenna Crawford/Jordan Christopher (MCKB) 21-9, 21-2
5. Emma Laade/Reagan Hopp (SLU) def. Alison Ridens/Katie Dawson (MCKB) 21-15, 21-11
 
ORDER OF FINISH: 4, 5, 3
 
(6) Spring Hill 3, (7) Saint Leo 0
1. Jeanette Henderson/Emma Miller (SLU) vs. Jaylyne Bell/Brooke Brogmeyer (SHC)
2. Marissa Peck/Elizabeth Hardouin (SHC) def. Tajma Muharemovic/ Oliwia Durka (SLU) 21-19, 21-18
3. Ally Lane/ Kamble Frenette (SHC) def. Brenna Reinhard/Paula Perez Rosales (SLU) 21-13, 21-13
4. Kayla David/Erin Johnson (SLU) vs. Ashlyn Whiteside/Reagan Huff (SHC)
5. Emma Grace Payne/Airyonna Weaver (SHC) def. Emma Laade/Reagan Hopp (SLU) 21-14, 16-21, 18-16

ORDER OF FINISH: 3, 2, 5
 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo moves to the challenge round, where it will take on Texas A&M – Kingsville at 12:15 p.m. The Lions are in a bracket with Texas A&M – Kingsville, Tampa, and Eckerd.