LYNCHBURG, Va. (August 31, 2022) - The Webber International University men's beach volleyball team opened its inaugural varsity season with a resounding victory over the weekend at Liberty University by going undefeated in all duels and not giving up a single set. With 5-0 victories against Liberty, Stevenson and Erskine, Webber starts off the season as the top seed in the country. 
 
Webber Lineup

1. Gunter Perea Quevedo / Carlos G. Jimenez
2. Peyten Young / Carson Barnes
3. Jackson Arnold / Ayden Keeter
4. Wesley Blazek / Samuel Pearish
5. Asa Sewell / Dallas Hitchins
6.  Exhibition Pair: Sabian Cardona / Bury Inelus

Match 1: Webber 5, Liberty 0
Gunter Perea Quevedo / Carlos G. Jimenez def. Josh Culpepper / Colt Fitzgerald 21-14 and 21-16 in the No. 1 spot
Peyten Young / Carson Barnes defeated Tyler Wemple / Brian Anderson 21-11 and 21-7 in the No. 2 spot
Jackson Arnold / Ayden Keeter defeated Zach Lamoureux / Cooper Guillaume 21-15 and 21-11 in the No 3 spot
Wesley Blazek / Samuel Pearish defeated Matt Marcinko / Chase Keith 21-10 and 21-15 in the No. 4 Spot
Asa Sewell / Dallas Hitchins defeated Bryce Weenink / Zach Bell 21-11 and 21-12 in the No. 5 spot
 
Match 2: Webber 5, Erskine 0
Gunter Perea Quevedo / Carlos G. Jimenez defeated Jordan Stoo / Mark Lowenberg 21-13 and 21-17 in the No. 1 spot
Peyten Young / Carson Barnes defeated Noah Vanweirn / Mikey Widmyer 21-12 and 21-14 in the No. 2 spot
Jackson Arnold / Ayden Keeter defeated Allen Faison / Dylan Daning 21-12 and 21-8 in the No 3 spot
Wesley Blazek / Samuel Pearish defeated Matt Richmond / Cristo Rojo 21-5 and 21-19 in the No. 4 Spot
Asa Sewell / Dallas Hitchins defeated Kaleb Hinson / Blake Carter 21-11 and 21-15 in the No. 5 spot

Match 3: Webber 5, Stevenson 0
Gunter Perea Quevedo / Carlos G. Jimenez defeated Timothy Flanagan / Ryan Thenell 21-11 and 21-17 in the No. 1 spot
Peyten Young / Carson Barnes defeated Aiden O'Brien / Minh Nguyen-Christienson 21-7 and 21-10 in the No. 2 spot
Jackson Arnold / Ayden Keeter defeated Allen Kevin Kouchoukos / Jack Braverman 21-9 and 21-13 in the No 3 spot
Wesley Blazek / Samuel Pearish defeated JD Sarmuksnis / Justin Novoa 21-11 and 21-13 in the No. 4 Spot
Asa Sewell / Dallas Hitchins defeated Daniel Stewart / Micah Ernest 21-14 and 21-18 in the No. 5 spot

The pairs portion of the competition saw Webber's one and two pairs receive a bye and three, four, five and six fight their way in the preliminary rounds. Webber's six seed (Cardona / Inelus) came up short, but all other Webber pairs would make it to the playoff rounds only to eventually be knocked out by their own teammates. At the end of the day, Webber one-seed (Gunter / Jimenez) would face off against Webber two-seed (Young / Barnes) in an all-Webber Final.

Coach Jimenez outlined the team's step in the right direction to kick off the season, saying "We prepared well during our pre-season period to be ready for all kinds of competitions and the guys are excited to showcase their talent. With this event being the first of its kind, all four teams will go down in the history books as participants in the first ever Men's Beach Collegiate Season in the country. Baylee Young, the new Graduate Assistant Coach for the Warriors, expressed her sentiments in being part of the new program; "Coming from playing at the Division-I NCAA level and now being part of the coaching staff for the men's beach program in their inaugural varsity season, is not only a tremendous opportunity but it has also permitted me to see the growth of the game itself. If the guys can play half as successful as they did last year, we will have a fun season ahead of us"
 
Next, the Warriors prepare to head off to Stevenson University in Owing Mills, Maryland for the USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach Challenge on Sep 9th.