Richmond, Ky - The Eastern Kentucky University beach volleyball team will be represented on the national stage, as Gabriella Armitage and Riley Cutler capped off a record-breaking weekend in Huntsville, Alabama, by earning the program's first-ever bid to the AVCA Collegiate Beach National Championships. The Colonels' duo punched their ticket to the national tournament following competition at the AVCA Central Qualification Tournament, held Oct. 24-25 at the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex in Huntsville, Alabama.

The pair defeated Austin Peay in straight sets (21-13, 21-11), Southern Miss in similar style (21-19, 21-19), and Tulane in a three-set thriller (21-15, 13-21, 15-11). 
 

Armitage and Cutler will join 64 of the nation's top collegiate pairs at the AVCA Collegiate Beach Pairs National Championship. The championship brings together top competitors from NCAA Division I and Division II programs, providing an opportunity to compete against some of the best pairs in the country.
 

The AVCA Collegiate Beach Championships will take place Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8, 2026, at one of the country's premier beach volleyball facilities in the country, the John Hunt Park Sand Volleyball Complex in Huntsville, Alabama. The 15-court venue features spectator viewing areas, athlete amenities, and LED lighting. Admission for the championship is free for all spectators.