TAVARES, Fla. --- The Tusculum University women's beach volleyball team has been seeded seventh at this weekend's (Apr. 12-14) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Small College Beach Championships, taking place at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, Florida.

The AVCA Small College Beach Volleyball Championships is the largest collegiate beach volleyball event in the country with 30 teams competing in over 400 total matches during the championship weekend. The event brings together the top beach teams in the country from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA. A champion is crowned in each division along with recognition of All-America/All-Tournament teams. The championships also include a Pairs Challenge event for participating teams.

Teams have been divided into four pools of four teams based on seasonal results through Sunday, April 7. All teams will have two pool play matches on Friday. On Saturday, all teams will play one pool match to complete pool play and then play one challenge round match to determine Sunday bracket placement.

Championship bracket play will begin on Sunday. The four winners of Challenge Round matches 1 – 4 will advance to the Gold Bracket. The four losers of Challenge Round matches 1 – 4 will move to the Silver Bracket. The four winners of Challenge Round matches 5 – 8 will advance to the Bronze Bracket. The four losers of Challenge Round matches 5 – 8 will move to the Copper Bracket. All teams will have two matches on Sunday. The Division II Champion will be the winner of the Gold bracket.

The Pioneers are seeded seventh and in Pool B with No. 2 Concordia Irvine, No. 10 Florida Southern, and No. 15 Catawba.

Additionally, Tusculum will be represented by three pairs in the Pairs Challenge: Morgan Pacione/Mia Johnson, Ashley Hall/Morgan Martin, and Kassidy Mercado/Addison Williams. Pacione and Johnson are in Pool E and will face pairs from Texas A&M Kingsville, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Eckerd. Hall and Martin are in Pool J, facing opposites from St. Andrews, Spring Hill, and Erskine. Finally, Mercado and Williams are placed in Pool C and will square off against pairing from Colorado Mesa, Saint Leo, and Catawba. The Pairs Challenge is a one-day event, taking place solely on Friday, April 12, with matches scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.