GULF SHORES, Ala.— After claiming back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship titles, Georgia State beach volleyball received an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores for a third consecutive season, as Sandy Panthers' head coach Beth Van Fleet and the team prepare to open the 2024 tournament facing No. 3-seeded, Stanford.

Georgia State (26-12) looks to build on an impressive campaign, which has seen the second most wins in a season in program history. The Sandy Panthers earned the No. 14 seed after edging out conference foe, Coastal Carolina, 3-1, in the SBC title match. Georgia State's Aliisa Vuorinen and Elise Saga, who competed in the fourth flight, were named the pair of the tournament along with earning all-tournament honors. Lila Bordis and Aree Keller, AVCA Top-Flight Award recipients, were also named to the all-tournament team after going undefeated in the second position. 

The Sandys have earned NCAA tournament bids three consecutive years. Overall, 2024 marks the fourth appearance for GSU at the NCAA Championship, and the fifth appearance in total for national tournament play (GSU participated in the 2015 AVCA National Championships prior to beach volleyball becoming an officially recognized NCAA collegiate sport.)

Now in her 11th season as head coach at GSU, Van Fleet has guided the team to 11 consecutive winning seasons. Van Fleet was named the Sun Belt Conference's 2024 Coach of the Year, defending her 2023 nod. She led GSU to an undefeated season in conference action, while also earning wins over seven nationally ranked opponents. Van Fleet coached three different Sandy Panthers' pairs to a total of four Sun Belt Pair of the Week nods for the season.

In addition to the Coach of the Year accolade, three pairs were named to the First Team All-Sun Belt. Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary earned the nod for their play in the first flight. The senior standouts have earned 100 career wins as a pair, notching 25 this year. Lila Bordis and Aree Keller led the Sandy Panthers with 28 wins this season and were also named to the First Team All-Sun Belt. Finally, junior and freshman duo, Destiny White and Savannah Ebarb, earned 23 wins this season and were twice named the SBC Pair of the Week. 

Furthermore, Aree Keller earned the Sun Belt's 2024 Newcomer of the Year Award after securing 24 wins for the regular season pairing alongside teammate Lila Bordis, who was the 2023 SBC Newcomer of the Year. 

No. 14 seed GSU will open NCAA Championship play facing the No. 3-seeded Stanford on Friday, May 3. Stanford (31-5) is entering the NCAA Championship for the fourth consecutive year, earning an at-large bid after placing in the top-3 of the Pac-12. This contest the first ever meeting between the two programs. 

The Sandy Panthers' first-round matchup in Gulf Shores will be contested at Gulf Beach Place outside The Hangout and hosted by the City of Gulf Shores, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Gulf Shores | Orange Beach Sports and Events. The dual match outing will be nationally televised on ESPNU with coverage of the entire event beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday.

For additional information regarding the 2024 NCAA Championship, visit the tournament's champ info page on NCAA.com. 

Follow Georgia State beach volleyball on social media (@GSUBeachVb) for news and updates as the team nears this week's NCAA tournament beginning May 3.