CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Less than 24 hours after winning the OVC Tournament, the Chattanooga Beach Volleyball team was selected to the National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship as the OVC's automatic qualifier. The Sandy Mocs were announced as the No. 16 seed on Sunday afternoon during the Tournament's Selection Show, and are paired up with  No. 1-seeded Stanford. 

The two sides are scheduled to face off on Friday, May 1, in Gulf Shores, Alabama. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. central/12 p.m.eastern. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Sandy Mocs and the Cardinal. 

"You know, it's hard to replicate some of these California teams with how big they are during practice, but, you know, we just go through practice this week, the same way we have, and how we prepare it all year, and then just try to get ourselves ready to go," said Head Coach Darin Van Horn. 

It marks the third consecutive and third overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament for UTC. Chattanooga fell to UCLA and North Florida in the First Round of the last two tournaments. The Sandy Mocs this year will look to become the first OVC side ever to win a match in the NCAA Tournament in Beach Volleyball. 

"I think it's gonna be the same mentality as we had last year. Just being fearless going out, giving it all. I think for some of them that have been there before, I know last year the returners were like, hey, it's not a dream anymore. This is like a reality and we know what we're supposed to expect when we arrive and how everything flows. And I think there's a little bit more comfort in that, not just the playing part, but just everything that comes with it. And even just for the players who weren't in the lineup last year, but had been around the team, I think they didn't know how everything's supposed to go, and it adds a little bit of comfort into competing as well.," said Van Horn. 

For fans who cannot make it to Gulf Shores, the Sandy Mocs' First Round match is being televised on ESPN2. Fans wanting to attend the Tournament came find more information about buying tickets at this link.

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA BEACH VOLLEYBALL .

For the most up-to-date information regarding Chattanooga Beach Volleyball, please follow us on X (@GoMocsBeachVB), Instagram (@GoMocsBeachVB) & Facebook (Chattanooga Athletics Department) or visit GoMocs.com.