GULF SHORES, Fla. – The Saint Leo University Beach Volleyball team's 2026 season came to an end on Sunday at the 2026 AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships. The Lions earned their first trip to the semifinals since 2024 looking to make a title run. After going 4-0 in pool play to advance, Saint Leo took on the runner-up for the past two years and the three-time defending national champions. Ultimately, the Lions dropped both contests against Concordia University Irvine and Tampa, 3-0. The Lions finish the 2026 season with the most wins in program history (24), the first All-Americans, the first Pairs Challenge Champions, two All-SSC pairs, and a whole lot of memories to last for a lifetime. Emma Laade and Paula Perez Rosales became Saint Leo's first two All-Americans in program history.

The Lions woke up to a rainy, cold day as they headed out to the beach. They took on the 2-seed and the national runner-up the past two seasons as they looked to advance to the title game. Saint Leo saw its opponent, CUI, take early leads on all five courts. The Lions kept most of the courts close before falling in straight sets on three courts, falling to CUI, 3-0.

The loss in the semifinals dropped Saint Leo to the third-place match. 

Saint Leo met a familiar foe in the final match of the championship, the three-time defending national champion Tampa Spartans, whose quest for a four-peat was thwarted by a 3-2 loss to Texas A&M – Kingsville earlier in the morning. Then, with the rain ceasing but still cold and windy, Saint Leo kept pace with the Spartans throughout the first set, including the Lions' three pair of Erin Johnson and Paula Perez Rosales taking the first set from the Spartans. Abby VanBuskirk and Paige Reeves forced a third set. Unfortunately, the Spartans clinched wins on courts one, two, and four to seal a third-place finish.

Following the matches, Emma Laade and Paula Perez Rosales were named the first All-Americans in program history to cap off their senior seasons.