Long Beach State University Athletics
Friday, May 1
Gulf Shores, Ala.
10 a.m. PT
Long Beach State University
vs
(8) California
Beach Volleyball Earns At-Large Selection To NCAA Championships
4/26/2026 10:45:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
Long Beach State returns to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Beach Volleyball received an at-large selection into the NCAA postseason, returning to Gulf Shores for the fourth consecutive season as one of the top teams in the nation.
Long Beach State secured the nine seed, and will face a familiar foe in the opening round of the championship in the eight seed, California. Long Beach State played the Golden Bears in the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship in both 2023 and 2024 in two very close matches with Cal.
Long Beach State closed the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation, and pushed No. 6 Cal Poly to the limit in the Big West Championship match.
Seniors Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah enter the NCAA Championship with a program record 119 wins, leading the Beach to the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in their four-year career. The All-American pair won the AVCA Individual National Championship earlier this season, and bring the Beach to Gulf Shores at the top of the lineup.
Also entering the NCAAs with over 20 wins as a pair are Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy, who are 22-9 overall in the second flight. Wagdy was the Big West Freshman of the Year last season.
The tournament begins on Friday, May 1 from Gulf Shores Alabama. The entirety of the tournament will be shown live on the ESPN family of networks, with the Round of 16 matches held throughout the day. Long Beach State and California will play at 10 a.m. PT.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be held on Saturday, May 2, with the championship match beginning at 9:30 a.m. live on ESPN.
Long Beach State secured the nine seed, and will face a familiar foe in the opening round of the championship in the eight seed, California. Long Beach State played the Golden Bears in the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship in both 2023 and 2024 in two very close matches with Cal.
Long Beach State closed the regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation, and pushed No. 6 Cal Poly to the limit in the Big West Championship match.
Seniors Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah enter the NCAA Championship with a program record 119 wins, leading the Beach to the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in their four-year career. The All-American pair won the AVCA Individual National Championship earlier this season, and bring the Beach to Gulf Shores at the top of the lineup.
Also entering the NCAAs with over 20 wins as a pair are Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy, who are 22-9 overall in the second flight. Wagdy was the Big West Freshman of the Year last season.
The tournament begins on Friday, May 1 from Gulf Shores Alabama. The entirety of the tournament will be shown live on the ESPN family of networks, with the Round of 16 matches held throughout the day. Long Beach State and California will play at 10 a.m. PT.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be held on Saturday, May 2, with the championship match beginning at 9:30 a.m. live on ESPN.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
/ Women's Beach Volleyball
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