NEW ORLEANS – McNeese beach volleyball earned its first Southland Conference Tournament victory in program history over Nicholls 3-1 Wednesday afternoon, rebounding from a 3-0 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the second match of the tournament.

"Historic day for the program to get our first conference tournament win," said head coach Yasmin Tan. "Super proud of the team with how they competed today against a tough TAMUCC team in round one, then to bounce back against Nicholls and get the win to keep our season alive another day. Looking to keep it rolling with another opportunity to compete against SJSU tomorrow!"
 
McNeese opened the day against A&M-Corpus Christi, falling in the first round 3-0. The Islanders claimed the No. 4 pair, followed by the No. 2 pair, and the No. 5 pair.
 
The Cowgirls fell to 12-18 on the season with the result as the Islanders rose to 20-12. A&M-Corpus Christi was a strong opponent who was receiving votes in Tuesday's AVCA Beach Volleyball Top 20 poll.
 
The Sandy Pokes moved to the elimination bracket to challenge ninth-seeded Colonels slated for just four hours later.
 
Rylee Lansing and Kendall Osgood positioned the Pokes well with a 1-0 No. 2 pair victory in two sets followed by the No. 4 pair of Harlee Tupper and Luciana Chuong falling to the Colonels in three sets to tie the dual at one apiece.
 
As the final three pairs set to play took the courts, the Cowgirls regained the lead 2-1 as McKenna Malone and Bethanie Durant took 21-8 and 21-9 wins as the No. 5 pair.
 
Stavroula Papazoglou and Reese Russell clinched the dual for McNeese for the program's first SLC Tournament victory. 

The dual elevated the Sandy Pokes to 13-18 on the 2025 campaign with the Colonels finishing the season at 0-25.
 
McNeese advances in the bracket to challenge third-seeded San Jose State at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, the third meeting between the squads this season.
 
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3, McNeese 0
1 . Morrow, Madison/Spaansen, Tess (TA&MCC) (Unf.) Papazoglou, Stavroula/Russell, Reese (McN) 21-17, 16-16
2 . Bobay, Kristin/Olsson, Millie (TA&MCC) 2-0 Lansing, Rylee/Osgood, Kendall (McN) 21-6, 21-14
3 . Cortez, Elizabeth/Moreno, Kela (TA&MCC) (Unf.) McGee, Jackie/Moore, McKenzie (McN) 21-18, 15-15
4 . Bennettx, Jade/Ranney, Bryce (TA&MCC) 2-0 Chuong, Luciana/Tupper, Harlee (McN) 21-11, 21-11
5 . Fernandes De Melo, Maria Duda/Rough, Ashlyn (TA&MCC) 2-0 Durant, Bethanie/Malone, McKenna (McN) 21-16 21-17
*Bold indicates clinching point
 
McNeese 3, Nicholls 1
1 . Papazoglou, Stavroula/Russell, Reese (McN) 2-0 Cummard, Quincy/Lunt, Olivia (NichSt) 21-3, 21-11
2 . Lansing, Rylee/Osgood, Kendall (McN) 2-0 Gamble, Jordan/Prine, Addison (NichSt) 21-16, 21-17
3 . Terrell, Tierney/Reed, Claire (NichSt) (Unf.) McGee, Jackie/Moore, McKenzie (McN) 13-21, 10-10
4 . Espinosa, Evelyn/Ferree, Peyton (NichSt) 2-1 Chuong, Luciana/Tupper, Harlee (McN) 21-23, 21-19, 15-9
5 . Durant, Bethanie/Malone, McKenna (McN) 2-0 Mason, Hailey/Anderson, Rubee (NichSt) 21-8, 21-9
*Bold indicates clinching point
 
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SLC Beach Volleyball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, April 23
1 – No. 8 New Orleans def. No. 9 Nicholls (3-0)
2 – No. 2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi def. No. 7 McNeese (3-0)
3 – No. 6 Southeastern  def. No. 3 San Jose State (3-1)
4 – No. 5 Houston Christian def. No. 4 Stephen F. Austin (3-2)
5 – No. 1 Boise State def. No. 8 New Orleans (3-0)
6 – No. 7 McNeese  def. No. 9 Nicholls (3-1)
7 – No. 2 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs No. 6 Southeastern 
8 – No. 5 Houston Christian 4 vs No. 1 Boise State
 
Thursday, April 24
9 – No. 4 Stephen F. Austin vs No. 8 New Orleans
10 – No. 7 McNeese vs No. 3 San Jose State
11 – Winner Match 9 vs Loser Match 7
12 – Winner Match 10 vs Loser Match 8
13 – Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 8
 
Friday, April 25
13 – Winner Match 11 vs Winner Match 12
15 – Winner Match 13 vs Loser Match 14
Championship – Winner Match 13 vs Winner Match 15