Gaston College's top moments from 2022-23: No. 5 Beach volleyball qualifies, competes in NJCAA national championship
After a tough opening day in the National Junior College Athletic Association national beach volleyball tournament, Gaston College set history April 21 and April 22 with the school's first-ever national tournament postseason victory and a 10th-place finish in the inaugural beach volleyball championships in Tavares, Fla.
On April 20, Coach Rachel Noreika's team lost 3-1 to Region 10 rival Bryant & Stratton, Va., in its opening match and lost 3-0 to No. 1-seeded Palm Beach State, Fla.
In her comments on day one, Noreika noted that the team "managed to stay positive" despite some travel issues en route to Tavares and a short practice time.
True to form, the Rhinos rebounded on April 21 to split their challenges—beating Trinidad State of Colorado 3-1 before losing 3-0 to Mesa, Ariz. Community College—then knocking off Bryant & Stratton of Wisconsin 3-0 in the April 22 consolation final before losing to Region 10 rival Spartanburg Methodist 3-0 in the 9th place match.
"I'm so proud of this team and our first, historic season," Noreika said. "Playing three consecutive days in the warm Florida weather pushed everyone out of their comfort zone but they all stepped up and pulled together for a great overall effort."
In the Rhinos' April 21 victory in a match at Hickory Point Beach, the pairs of Elizabeth Jones and Emma Downey (21-19, 15-12, 15-10), Cristina Rotola and Naomi Hilliard (21-20, 21-12) and Carli Phillips and Bianca Bowland (21-15, 21-17) posted victories and the team of Leilani Nolasco and Kristy Seifert was in their third set when the match victory was determined.
In the consolation semifinal win, the pairs of Rotola and Hilliard (21-6, 21-15), Phillips and Bowland (21-8, 21-10) and Nolasco and Seifert (21-9, 21-17) won their matches to advance to the Consolation Bracket 2 championship match.
Gaston College was one of four Region 10 teams that qualified for the inaugural NJCAA beach volleyball championships.
When Gaston College had athletics from 1964 to 1972 before suspending the program, no team had ever advanced to a NJCAA national tournament event.