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A group of Mesa Community College beach volleyball student-athletes and coaches celebrate on the sand court following their third-place finish at the NJCAA Beach Volleyball National Championships. Players wearing blue “Thunderbirds” uniforms pose together with raised arms and smiles in front of a beach volleyball net in Huntsville, Alabama. Text at the bottom of the graphic reads “Mesa Community College Beach Volleyball – NJCAA Beach Volleyball 3rd Place Finish.”
A group of Mesa Community College beach volleyball student-athletes and coaches celebrate on the sand court following their third-place finish at the NJCAA Beach Volleyball National Championships. Players wearing blue “Thunderbirds” uniforms pose together with raised arms and smiles in front of a beach volleyball net in Huntsville, Alabama. Text at the bottom of the graphic reads “Mesa Community College Beach Volleyball – NJCAA Beach Volleyball 3rd Place Finish.”
Posted: May 08, 2026

BEACH VOLLEYBALL EARNS THIRD-PLACE FINISH AT NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Mesa Community College Beach Volleyball team capped off a historic season with a third-place finish at the NJCAA Beach Volleyball National Championships, finishing the year with a program-record 21 wins.

Entering the national tournament as the No. 3 seed, the Thunderbirds put together a strong run through pool play, posting a 3-1 record with their lone loss coming against top-seeded and eventual national champion Palm Beach State College.

Mesa advanced into the championship bracket where the T-Birds squared off against No. 2 seed Lake-Sumter State College in the semifinals. Mesa battled throughout the matchup but ultimately fell 3-1, sending the Thunderbirds to the third-place match.

In the final dual of the season, Mesa closed the tournament in dominant fashion with a 3-0 sweep over No. 4 seed Central Wyoming College to secure a third-place national finish.

The Thunderbirds also found success in the inaugural pair events held during the championships. The duo of Brianna Anderson and Marley Avechuco captured their bracket title with a 2-0 victory over Coastal Alabama Community College in the finals. Isa Folau and Paige Thompson also claimed a championship, defeating Trinidad State College in their championship matchup.

Mesa's national tournament performance capped off one of the most successful seasons in program history as the Thunderbirds continued to establish themselves among the top beach volleyball programs in the NJCAA.

 

Photo Credit: Branden Davis