Mesa, Ariz. - ACU Beach Volleyball gets 2024 and its sixth season since inception underway this Friday. Head coach Vanessa Burwick will lead the Lady Firestorm in her first three games as head coach, with a triple header on the docket. The action from Arizona Athletic Grounds (formerly Legacy Sports Complex) begins at 9:00 AM with Bushnell on the other side of the net.

In 2024, there will be eight new "Sandy Birds," highlighted by Eliana Cho, Mia Scheepens, Emily Katzer and Alyssa Robles. Additionally, former Arizona Christian Beach Volleyball player Aubri Green (2019-22) joins Burwick on the coaching staff as her assistant.

Game Details

Arizona Christian at Bushnell - Friday, February 9 at 9:00 AM
Arizona Christian at Northwest (WA) - Friday, February 9 at 11:00 AM
Arizona Christian at Park-Gilbert - Friday, February 9 at 1:00 PM

Arizona Athletic Grounds - Mesa, AZ

*All Time Listed Are Arizona Time

Arizona Christian

The Lady Firestorm closed out the 2023 season with a 7-15 overall record and 5-7 performance in GSAC play under head coach Sarah Blomgren. They opened with five wins (the first four decided 3-2) but fell in their final 11 matches. In four home matches (Victory Lanes Sports Complex), ACU went 3-1 which featured a 5-0 win over GSAC opponent Life Pacific. 

Sydney Shaw and Katy Shockey were the top pair for Arizona Christian, posting a 10-12 overall record and 9-3 performance in GSAC play. Misty McCall was a staple in the number one pair for the Firestorm, competing with Railey Dykstra and Brianna Boeckman and managing a 6-16 record (5-7 GSAC).

In the 2024 NAIA Women's Beach Volleyball Coaches' Top-10 preseason poll (January 24), Arizona Christian received votes (21). Three GSAC programs were ranked in the top-10, with Vanguard the highest at number one in the country following a national championship in 2023.

ACU Key Returners (2023 Records)

Sydney Shaw - 10-12 (9-3 GSAC)
Katy Shockey - 10-12 (9-3 GSAC)
Riley Brown - 7-13 (5-7 GSAC)
Haley Brown - 7-15 (6-6 GSAC)
Amaya Brown - 7-15 (6-6 GSAC)

Series Notes

Friday marks the first ever match between the Firestorm and Bushnell University Beacons.

Arizona Christian will take on the Northwest University (WA) Eagles for the first time in program history.

The Firestorm are 1-1 all-time against the Park University Gilbert Buccaneers. They lost the first ever meeting 3-2 on February 14, 2020 and won the second 3-2 three years later on February 15, 2023. Both matches were held in Gilbert, the most recent at Legacy Sports Complex prior to its name change (Arizona Athletic Grounds). In last year's match, ACU's 1, 2 and 3 pairs took care of business with the 1 (Misty McCall/Railey Dykstra) and 3 (Amaya Brown/Haley Brown) winning in straight sets. 

Thoughts From Coach Vanessa Burwick

"We expect great competition from any school that we play," Coach Burwick said. "I have told the girls that all I am asking from them is that they work has hard as they possibly can, keeping God at the forefront of our minds. When we do this I believe we will experience growth and success like no other. I'm very excited to see the twins Haley and Riley Brown compete and Sydney Shaw and Railey Dykstra."

Bushnell 

The Bushnell University Beacons (2023: 7-11) enter their third season as a program under head coach Kim Elgarico, who has been with them every step of the way. Individually, Bushnell will be led by graduate student Halle Neumann, who posted a 8-7 record in the number four pair last season and was the lone Beacon to have a record above .500. Brooke Silvernail and Jadeya Hayes are the only returning pair, going 7-11 as the number three pair in 2023.

Northwest (WA)

The Northwest University (WA) Eagles (2023: 3-9) will make their 2024 debut today against #5 OUAZ and Park-Gilbert at Arizona Athletic Grounds. Hannah Lord, a NU alumna and former collegiate volleyball player, returns for her second season as the Eagles head coach. The Eagles see seven players return in 2024.

Park-Gilbert

The Park University Gilbert Buccaneers (2023: 6-11) open their season today with matches against #5 OUAZ and Bushnell at Arizona Athletic Grounds. Three players return in 2024 for the Buccaneers, as Pat Mooney takes the reins of the program in his first year as head coach. Railey Druxman led those returning with a 5-6 overall record, all in the number five pair.


Roll Storm!