The Women’s beach volleyball team won their first-ever AVCA National Championship title. The team held a 6-0 record over three days in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Golden Eagles displayed dominance in defeating their opponents, leading them to cross the ultimate finish line. 

The team’s motto this season was to Cross the Finish Line. The finish line being a national title. After finishing runner-up the past two years, the girls were hungry for the championship title and needed to cross the finish line.

Junior Rosie Cline said, “I truly believe it comes down to the love and heart we have for each other.” This team was special because they played for God and each other.

Senior Teagan Algarra said, “This team’s heart was unlike anything we’ve had before. We experienced so much adversity that ended up bringing us closer together.” This team was determined to win a national title and played for something bigger than themselves, leading them to be champions. 

The Golden Eagles handled business on championship Sunday, dominantly sweeping Saint Leo in the semifinals. Then, Concordia secured the national championship by beating Texas A&M Kingsville in the finals. 

The team ran together to celebrate their long-awaited victory. Algarra said, “I’ve never felt so many emotions at one time; my heart was bursting because I felt so proud of everyone.”

Senior and All-American Ashley Rossi said, “It was pure joy, it did not even feel real in the moment, it was one of the best feelings.”

The team worked hard all season and faced many challenges to get to nationals. Winning a national title was a dream come true, and even more special because of the team they did it with. 

Junior Gabby Reinking said, “What made it so special was that we did not focus on winning, we focused on the present moments and being where our feet were planted.” After winning the championship, Reinking said, “There was a lot of relief and sense of accomplishment knowing we completed our goal and crossed the finish line.”

Algarra said, “It was so bittersweet because as I was feeling a surreal amount of joy, I was also feeling the weight of my last season coming to a close.” 

The seven seniors leave their legacy on the program as national champions. They impacted the team with their heart and determination. The returners are excited to continue their legacy and continue to play for each other and strive for excellence. 

The beach volleyball team concludes their 2026 season as national champions and brings home their program’s first national title. Check out @cuibeach on Instagram to see more of the national champions.

Tags: Beach Volleyball, women's athletics

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