HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Annalie McWhorter and Aubrey Sheppard represented Lindenwood in the AVCA Beach Volleyball Pair National Championships this past weekend, finishing 45^th overall after entering the tournament as the 63^rd seeded pair.

The duo opened competition with a 10-21, 8-21 loss against Erin Inskeep/Logan Walter of Cal Poly, who were the No. 2 seed and eventual fourth place finishers, but bounced back with a straight set 21-18, 21-18 win over No. 34 Marta Carro/Julia Czurylo of Stetson in the consolation bracket for one of the top wins in program history. 

After a pair of hard fought three-set losses against No. 47 Mia Scanlon/Olivia Strandberg of Florida Atlantic (16-21, 21-19, 13-15), and No. 26 Kiera Cornman/Summer Witherby of Hawai'i (17-21, 21-19, 8-15), McWhorter and Sheppard regrouped for a strong finish against No. 54 Ansley Gulledge/Corina Vale of Chattanooga, defeating their OVC rivals in straight sets (21-18, 22-20).

Friday
Round 1: Inskeep/Walter (Cal Poly) def. McWhorter/Sheppard (Lindenwood), 21-10, 21-8
Consolation Rd. 1: McWhorter/Sheppard (Lindenwood) def. Carro/Czurylo (Stetson), 21-18, 21-18

Saturday
Consolation Rd. 2: Scanlon/Strandberg (FAU) def. McWhorter/Sheppard (Lindenwood), 21-16, 19-21, 15-13
41^st Place: Cornman/Witherby (Hawai'i) def. McWhorter/Sheppard (Lindenwood), 21-17, 19-21, 15-8

Sunday
45^th Place: McWhorter/Sheppard (Lindenwood) def. Gulledge/Vale (UTC), 21-18, 22-20