Beach Volleyball: TCU Wins CCSA Conference Championship; Secures No. 2 Seed in NCAA Tournament

The Horned Frogs win their first ever conference championship after battling back through the loser’s bracket.

The No. 2 TCU beach volleyball team won their first-ever CCSA Conference Championship despite losing their first match in the tournament. On Day 1 of the tournament, they lost to No. 7 Grand Canyon but defeated Missouri State, No. 4 Florida State, and No. 3 LSU on their way to the conference championship match. There, they met Grand Canyon again in the championship, sweeping the match 3-0.

The 2023 CCSA Championship bracket shows TCU as champions / theccsa.com

"Coming back from the loser's bracket is never an easy thing to do," said head coach Hector Gutierrez. "You can see the heart and the fight that these girls put on this tournament. I'm so proud of them."

The conference tournament was played a bit differently this year, with inclement weather forcing some matches to end once three courts were won rather than playing the whole five, which affected both matches against Grand Canyon.

Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno were named CCSA Pair of the Tournament, while Rochelle Scott/Hailey Brockett and Sutton MacTavish/Hailey Hamlett were awarded the All-Tournament team.

Thursday

Lost to No. 7 Grand Canyon 0-3

Alvarez/Moreno and Maria Gonzalez/Ana Vergara's matches weren't finished due to the CCSA decision rule based on weather. The Frogs fell to the loser's bracket for the first time in the CCSA Conference Tournament since 2021.

Friday

Beat Missouri State 5-0

The Horned Frogs move to 4-0 against the Beach Bears all-time, winning all 20 sets played.

Beat No. 4 Florida State 3-2 

TCU remained perfect against FSU all season at 3-0 and advanced to the CCSA semifinals for the third consecutive season.

Saturday

Beat No. 6 LSU 4-1

The Frogs clinched their spot in the CCSA Championship match for the second consecutive season.

Beat No. 7 Grand Canyon 3-0

TCU took the first five sets of the match. Rochelle Scott earned her 100th career victory in the win. Alvarez/Moreno and Kate Privett/Anhelina Khmil's matches were unfinished due to the CCSA decision rule. The Frogs avenged the earlier loss against GCU to become CCSA champions.

TCU Beach Volleyball Earns No. 2 Seed in NCAA Tournament

The Frogs earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament Sunday and are slated to play No. 15 seeded Stetson on May 5. If they advance, they will face the winner of No. 10 seed Stanford and No. 7 seeded Grand Canyon the following day. This is the third straight season the Frogs earned a spot in the NCAA tournament, and for the second straight season, they hold a No. 2 seed.

The 2023 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship Bracket shows TCU as a No. 2 seed / NCAA

CCSA Postseason Awards

TCU also swept all major CCSA postseason awards categories. This was the second time in program history the Frogs claimed all major awards. Following is a list of all the major awards.

CCSA Head Coach of the Year: Hector Gutierrez

Unanimous CCSA Pair of the Year: Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno

CCSA Freshman of the Year: Anhelina Khmil

CCSA All-Conference Team: Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno and Rochelle Scott/Hailey Brockett

CCSA All-Freshman Team: Anhelina Khmil

"I am really happy for the girls," said head coach Hector Gutierrez. "This is back-to-back years that we have received these awards. This is a very special moment for us as a school and us as a team. I couldn't be prouder of the girls and everyone behind us. None of it would be possible without the staff."

The NCAA tournament is next. Let's go win the whole thing.

Next up: The No. 2 seeded Horned Frogs will travel to Gulf Shores, Alabama, to play No. 15 seeded Stetson at 1 p.m. CST on ESPNU. If they advance, they play the winner of No. 10 Stanford and No. 7 Grand Canyon at 11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN2. Two wins put them in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

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