The Palm Beach State College Beach Volleyball team made history as the winners of the inaugural NJCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship held April 20-22 at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, Fla.
The competition featured 12 of the association’s top teams. The Panthers beat all six opponents 3-0, never losing a set the whole tournament.
The Panthers kicked off the championship on Thursday, April 20 with pool play, where they swept both Bryant & Stratton (VA) and Gaston College. The challenge rounds took place on Friday, April 21, where the Panthers defeated Region 8 foes State College of Florida Manatee and St. John’s River to advance to the final four.
The final four took place on Saturday, April 22 which saw the Panthers knock off South Mountain to advance to the championship game, which was a rematch with St. John’s River. Just like the four previous meetings with St. John’s River during the season, the Panthers came out on top to claim the national championship.
Sophomores Angelina Botolino and Lola Vidamour were named the Pair of the Tournament, while Head Coach Drew Colvin was named Coach of the Tournament.
For the season, the Panthers went 24-4, with their losses all coming against four-year schools. The Panthers went undefeated against NJCAA schools. Lola Vidamour was named the Region 8/FCSAA Player of the Year while Lola Vidamour and Angelina Botolino were named Pair of the Year. Alli Bryant and Ana Paula Fallas Cruz were also named to the Region 8/FCSAA 1st Team.