MESA, Ariz. - The second NAIA Beach Volleyball Quarterfinal delivered a back-and-forth team battle that ended with Wayland Baptist (Texas) edging New College of Florida, 3-2. 

Wayland Baptist struck first through its No. 2 pair, as Selma Sutaj and Alaina Baran overwhelmed New College’s Kayla Gentry and Jayden Ponsford in a decisive 2-0 win, 21-11, 21-9. The early point gave Wayland Baptist momentum and put pressure on the remaining flights that would begin only after both opening pairs were complete. New College, however, kept the overall match level by taking Pair 4 in straight sets. Camilla Vaerini and Soroya Nacero controlled the key moments against Frida Espeseth and Milena Alliot-Maslankiewich, winning 21-17, 21-15 to make the team score 1-1.

Once Pairs 1, 3 and 5 began at the conclusion of the opening courts, the quarterfinal turned into a three-court sprint with every set carrying major weight. New College grabbed a crucial edge at Pair 3, where Alba Romanos Gracia and Jayleen Santiago outlasted Wayland Baptist’s Averi Penner and Lilou Henry-Souquet-Bressand in a tight three-setter, 21-16, 19-21, 17-15. That win pushed New College in front 2-1 overall and left Wayland Baptist needing two points from the remaining two flights.

Wayland Baptist answered with composure. At Pair 1, Taisiia Kalchenko and Deniz Yileri recovered after dropping the second set to defeat Cassidy Casey and Olivia Fenstermaker, 2-1 (21-19, 11-21, 15-11), pulling the team score even at 2-2. The quarterfinal then came down to Pair 5, where Wayland Baptist’s Luiza Valentim and Carlee Heidebrecht traded sets with Mariana Saba and Malu Barreis before taking control in the decider. After splitting the first two sets 21-19 and 14-21, Valentim and Heidebrecht surged to a commanding 15-4 third set to clinch the final point and the 3-2 team victory.

Wayland Baptist (Texas) advances to the semifinals on Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. PT and will face OUAZ (Ariz.).