SAN BRUNO, Calif. - LMU finished the national runner-up at the 2025 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship Sunday morning after falling to TCU, 3-2, in the national championship match at Gulf Place Beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. The fourth-seeded Lions defeated Florida Atlantic, defending national champion USC and defending national runner-up UCLA prior to meeting the second-seeded Horned Frogs Sunday morning. 

LMU completed the 2025 campaign with a record of 38-7, a program best. The Lions took down the four-time defending national champions No. 5 seed USC in the quarterfinals before beating No. 1 seed UCLA in the semifinals. 

In the national championship match, the Lions got off to a hot start, taking three of the five first sets. TCU took control later in the match, winning on two of the first three courts to finish, securing a 2-1 lead. It came down to the first and fifth courts, both courts where LMU had won the first set. The Lions got it done on court five, tying the match at two. On the top court, the Lions were battling not only the No. 1 ranked player in the nation but also a pair that finished fifth for Spain the 2024 Summer Olympics. TCU won in three sets, clinching the national title. 

In the semifinal match against No. 1 seed UCLA on Saturday, LMU prevailed, 3-2. The match was a come-from-behind win for the Lions as UCLA went up 2-0 early. The Lions got on the scoreboard on court two with Vilhelmiina Prihti and Chloe Hooker picking up the win in straight sets. It came down to courts four and five, both courts where the Bruins won the first set. The Lions clawed back and won on both courts. Tanon Rosenthal and Giuliana Poletti Corrales clinched the match on court five. 

Earlier in the day in the quarterfinals, LMU handled the Trojans with a 3-1 victory. The Lions took control early, taking all first sets. Michelle Shaffer and Anna Pelloia clinched the win in three sets on court one. 

LMU got their memorable run started with a 3-0 sweep over No. 13 seed Florida Atlantic in the first round on Friday.