CONWAY, Ark. - The Beach Bears are set for a tough weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, where they will compete in four matches over two days. The Bears open play on March 28 with a 10:00 AM match against Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), followed by a 2:00 PM contest against Jacksonville University. The action continues on March 29, with an 8:00 AM matchup against Stetson University before closing out the trip with a 2:00 PM battle against North Florida.
UCA will be looking for redemption against familiar ASUN opponents, as they have previously faced all four teams but have yet to secure a win.
Scouting the Opponents
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Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) – The Bears and Eagles last met on April 23, 2022, in the ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship, where FGCU claimed a 5-0 sweep over UCA. The Eagles, ranked No. 20 at the time, dominated the pool play round. UCA will be looking to change the outcome in this rematch.
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Jacksonville University – UCA fell 0-3 to Jacksonville in their last meeting on April 25, 2024, during the ASUN Beach Volleyball Championship. The loss put the Dolphins ahead 2-1 in the all-time series. The Bears will aim to even the series in their second meeting within a year.
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Stetson University – Stetson has had the upper hand in their previous two matchups against UCA. In their most recent meeting on April 24, 2024, the Hatters secured a 5-0 sweep over the Bears in the first round of the ASUN tournament. UCA will need to bring their best effort to break through against a Stetson squad that has proven dominant.
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University of North Florida (UNF) – The Ospreys topped UCA 4-1 in their lone matchup on April 24, 2022, during the ASUN Championship. The Bears fought hard, with four of the five courts going to three sets, but ultimately fell short. They will look to capitalize on lessons learned in their first rematch in two years.
With four competitive matchups ahead, the Beach Bears have an opportunity to turn the tide and pick up statement wins in ASUN play. The team will rely on its depth, resilience, and experience to push through the demanding schedule in Jacksonville.
