Men’s indoor and women’s sand volleyball champions crowned

• Washington alums win overseas tournaments; Gabbi Parker turns pro

MEN’S INDOOR: LOYOLA CHICAGO DEFEATS STANFORD; MATT WEST HONORED

Over the weekend in Chicago, hometown Loyola knocked off Stanford 3-1 (25-17, 19-25, 25-19, 25-15) to win the school’s first NCAA men’s volleyball title. Loyola coach Shane Davis was named AVCA Coach of the Year, BYU senior outside hitter (and four-time All-American) Taylor Sander was AVCA Player of the Year. Seattle’s Matt West, a junior setter for Pepperdine, was named to the AVCA Second Team, after earning First Team honors last season.

WOMEN’S SAND: PEPPERDINE WINS SECOND TITLE

Pepperdine players celebrate their championship in the Gulf of Mexico surf
Pepperdine Athletics

In Gulf Shores, Alabama, Pepperdine knocked off top-ranked USC in the semifinals on the way to winning its second AVCA Sand Volleyball National Team Championship in the tournament’s three years of existence. The Waves defeated Florida State in the team Finals. USC’s Kirby Burnham and Sara Hughes beat Hawai’i’s Karissa Cook and Brittany Tiegs to take the Pairs Championship. USC’s Anna Collier was named Sand Coach of the Year.

CHRISTAL ENGLE AND PARTNER WIN ON GUATAMALEN SAND

Christal Engle prepares to serve on the way to gold at the NORCECA Guatamala City finals

Former Washington All-American Christal (Morrison) Engle and partner Heather Hughes (Loyola Marymount) won the gold at the NORCECA Continental Beach Volleyball Tour event in Guatamala City. The finals, against Costa Ricans Karen Cope and Natalia Alfaro, was called in the third set when Alfaro suffered a bee sting and was unable to continue. The Continental Tour now moves to Antigua.

COURTNEY THOMPSON’S PRO TEAM REACHES WORLD CLUB SEMIFINALS

Former Washington All-American setter Courtney Thompson led Voléro Zürich to a major upset over South American club champion Sao Paulo, to reach the semifinals of the FIVB World Club Championships. [see more]

GABBI PARKER TO PLAY IN SWITZERLAND

Gabbi Parker, finishing her senior year at Washington, heads to Europe this summer to play professionally in Switzerland. Parker tells Volleyblog Seattle she’s signed a contract with the team in Val-de-travers. Parker joins dozens of Washington alumni who are—or have—played professionally overseas, including current pros Courtney Thompson, Tama Miyashiro, Lauren Barfield, Kindra Carlson, Alesha Deesing, Kelcey Dunaway, Jenna Hagglund, Becky Perry, Bianca Rowland, Airial Salvo and Evan Sanders.

COURTNEY SCHWAN NAMED TO JUNIOR NATIONAL TRAINING TEAM

Incoming Washington recruit Courtney Schwan, who led Bellarmine Prep to two state titles, is one of 18 athletes named to the USA Women’s Junior National Training Team. 12 members will travel to Guatemala in July for the NORCECA U-20 Continental Championships. High school junior Haley Hodson, a former club teammate of Washington’s Cassie Strickland and Bailey Tanner—and of incoming Huskies Crissy Jones and Tia Scambray—is also on the Junior National team.