ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd beach volleyball team heads to the AVCA Small College Championships this weekend looking to make history.
The Tritons (13-5) are enjoying the best season in their four-year history behind an experienced group of seniors who helped launch the program in 2015.
One of those seniors,
Kaitlyn Sibson, has partnered with a freshman to become one of the top pairs in the country.
Sibson and
Paula Hoffmann are ranked third among No. 1 pairs in the NCAA only sitting behind Hawaii's Emily Maglio and Ka'iwi Schucht and USC's Abril Bustamante and Tina Graudina while sporting a 17-1 overall record. Â Both also rank in the top 10 in the nation in individual records.
Still a growing sport, beach volleyball currently competes in only one division in the NCAA.
The Tritons have a chance to set a new program record for wins in a season during Saturday's pool play. Â Last year, Eckerd won 14 contests. Â With two pool matches on Saturday, EC could eclipse that mark heading into Sunday's bracket play.
Eckerd won the small college tournament in 2016 and advanced to the finals in 2017 where the team was edged by Webber International, 3-2.
The Tritons are part of the DII Yellow Pool along with Spring Hill (Ala.) and Saint Leo. Â The event is being held at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, Florida, with the AVCA as the sponsor for the first time.
