It’s only the second year of beach volleyball at Texas A&M Kingsville, and already Lady Javelinas are bringing home national hardware all the way from Florida.
"To see our program already growing from what it was in our first year, is incredible," Madeline Sims told KZTV.
"We said before we even left for the tournament that we were going to be National Champions, we were just ready to go," Haley Hutchinson said.
TAMUK beach volleyball has made history as the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Small College Beach Champions. Not only did they stun the beach volleyball circuit, but they had a good time doing so.
"I think we surprised a lot of people because we are a D2 and our schedule is basically all D1 schools so that really prepared us to face the competition at the tournament," Hutchinson said.
"We just went out there and had fun…every moment I was just thankful for this moment and having the opportunity," Maelee Sowa added.
The team also believes this opportunity will lead to awareness about who the heck they are!!!
"I think it’s gonna bring in a lot of girls and like my teammate was saying not just for beach volleyball but for getting our school noticed and people know how to say have-ah-lina not jav-ah-lina," Kyra Henderson said.
Who this team is on a daily basis goes beyond the sand volleyball court.
"We hold them accountable for their behavior, they are so respectful so well-behaved they work really hard and they just don’t complain about the hard stuff they embrace it," head coach Tanya Allen said.
The first ever national title for a women’s program is a huge deal and if you partner it with a character building university like Kingsville, the future is bright.
"I definitely want to do this again, I think I love it, I think they are capable of it and now it’s just motivation to continue to do that …to keep winning," Allen smiled.
The team will finish our the season with one more tournament, April 14th-15th, Javelina Battle on the Bay.
