Sand, Sun, and Stetson: The 2026 ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship Is Heating Up at John Hunt Park
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The sand is flying at John Hunt Park, and the 2026 ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship is living up to every bit of its hype. Two days into the three-day double-elimination tournament, the picture is coming into sharp focus, and if you’re not watching on ESPN+, you’re missing out.
The Hatters Are Looking Unstoppable
If there’s one team that came to Huntsville to make a statement, it’s the No. 1 seed and nationally ranked No. 14 Stetson. The Hatters opened the tournament with a dominant 5-0 sweep of No. 8 Austin Peay on Wednesday, setting the tone early across all five courts. The duo everyone has their eyes on — ASUN Pair of the Year Marta Carro and Maria Ozaeta — handled the top flight with authority. Head Coach Kristina Hernandez had plenty to smile about afterward, noting that her team came out aggressive from the jump, particularly at the three and five positions.
Thursday brought more of the same. Stetson swept Jacksonville 5-0 in the winner’s bracket, though the final score belied just how competitive the courts actually were. Jacksonville’s Morgan Perry and Kate Taylor opened with a first-set win at the four-flight and pushed all the way to a third set before Stetson edged them out. The Hatters are in the driver’s seat heading into Friday’s semifinals, and at this point, you’d have to do something special to slow them down.
North Florida Is Not Ready to Give Up the Crown
The defending champions came in as the No. 2 seed and have been every bit as formidable. North Florida opened with a 5-0 sweep of Central Arkansas on Wednesday, earning two-set wins at every single line. Thursday’s quarterfinal against FGCU was a different story — a real tournament-style battle. The Ospreys ultimately took down the Eagles 3-1, with Presley Murray and Samantha Crosby clinching the match with a gutsy three-set win, 21-13, 18-21, 21-19, at the three line.
The Ospreys are back in the semifinals and will get their shot at Friday glory. A Stetson–North Florida championship final would be a rematch for the ages.
Jacksonville’s Wild Ride
The Dolphins have been one of the most compelling storylines of the tournament. Jacksonville pulled off a historic 3-2 upset of No. 4 North Alabama in the opening round — the program’s first-ever win against the Lions — with Megan Hair and Claire Mrukowski delivering the clinching point in a three-set thriller on the top flight. That result also set a new program record for wins in a single season.
The high didn’t last long. Thursday morning brought a 5-0 loss to Stetson, but even that dual showed the Dolphins’ fight. Jacksonville pushed the No. 1 seed throughout the lineup, with Claire Mrukowski and Megan Hair staying competitive on the top court and going toe-to-toe for most of the second set. Now in the elimination bracket, Jacksonville still has life and will need to win out to make the championship match.
The Home State Team Is Done
North Alabama’s tournament run came to an end Thursday, and it was a tough day to be a Lion. After dropping their opening match to Jacksonville on Wednesday, UNA fell 3-0 to Austin Peay in the elimination bracket on Thursday at John Hunt Park, and just like that, the home state team was headed home without advancing.
Meanwhile, Austin Peay’s own season also came to a close with the same result, as the Govs left Huntsville having been eliminated in back-to-back matches.
What’s Next
Friday is championship day. The semifinals tip off at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. CT, with the championship match scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT — all on ESPN+. The road to the ASUN title runs through Huntsville one more day, and with Stetson and North Florida both looking locked in, a top-two seed final feels very much on the table.
Keep your eyes on the sand. Things are about to get good.