The Stevenson University women’s beach volleyball team wrapped up an impressive national tournament run by securing their second consecutive bronze medal, capping the day with wins over the University of Lynchburg and Hendrix College.
In a tightly contested quarterfinal match to open the day, the Mustangs edged out Lynchburg 3-2.
At the top pairing, Maddie Clouser and Hannah Naja delivered a clutch performance, taking the first and third sets 21-18 and 18-16.
The No. 4 pair of Makala Thompson and Maren Zepfel notched a two-set victory, 21-18 and 21-19, while the fifth flight of Scarlett Dunn and Claire Thompson cruised to a dominant sweep, 21-13, 21-13, to clinch the win and advance Stevenson to the semifinals.
Facing the tournament’s top seed and eventual national champion Mary Hardin-Baylor in the semis, Stevenson battled but ultimately fell 3-0.
The loss sent the Mustangs into the bronze medal match, where they rebounded with a strong 3-1 victory over Hendrix College.
The Mustangs showed their depth in the third-place match. Nicolette Fuglestad and Miranda Mueck, playing in the No. 2 slot, claimed straight-set wins of 21-13 and 21-18.
Thompson and Zepfel continued their stellar play in the fourth flight with decisive 21-14 and 21-16 victories. Dunn and Claire Thompson sealed the team’s podium finish with a convincing 21-18, 21-15 result at the fives.
Stevenson concludes the 2025 season with a 16-10 overall record, marking yet another milestone for the rapidly rising program and solidifying its place as a consistent national contender.