Walnut, Calif. – With the sun shining and the sand courts packed, Mt. San Antonio College hosted the 2026 3C2A Beach Volleyball Pairs State Championship in front of a home crowd and picture-perfect Southern California weather.
Representing Mt. SAC was the Mounties' No. 1 pair all season long — Emma Carson and Eva Fisher — who earned their spot among the top 32 teams in the state after an impressive run at SoCal Regionals the weekend prior. The duo entered the tournament as the South's No. 13 seed and were ready to defend their home sand against some of the best pairs California had to offer.
Friday's pool play put Carson and Fisher in a challenging bracket alongside Monterey Peninsula's Hannah Child and Anna Eldridge (north No. 4 seed), Santa Monica's Eden Lorin and Sadie Town (south's No. 5 seed), and American River College's Maya Mishchuk and Margaret O'Brien (north's No. 12 seed).
The Mounties opened the day against Santa Monica, shaking off some early nerves after dropping the first set 21-12. Carson and Fisher settled in during the second set and battled harder point-for-point, but the Corsairs ultimately secured the match with a 21-17 finish.
Their next matchup against Monterey Peninsula looked headed in a similar direction after the Mounties dropped set one 21-16. But Carson and Fisher flipped the momentum completely. The pair stormed back to take set two 21-13 before grinding out a dramatic 15-12 third-set victory to earn a huge upset win over the Lobos.
The Mounties then entered their final pool play match against American River College ready for another battle — and that is exactly what they got. Carson and Fisher claimed the opening set 21-17, but the Beavers answered back with a 21-18 second-set win to force yet another decisive third. Late in the match, American River appeared ready to close things out with a 14-11 lead. But the Mounties refused to back down.
Showing grit, composure, and relentless energy, Carson and Fisher rallied to steal the set 18-16 in extra points, earning their second three-set victory of the day and punching their ticket into Saturday's Round of 16.
As the lowest seed in their pool, finishing second and advancing to bracket play was an incredible accomplishment. Through hot temperatures, pressure-packed third sets, and higher-seeded opponents, Carson and Fisher proved they belonged among the state's elite.
Unfortunately, that would be their last victory of the season – in terms of points. But in terms of the best beach volleyball they played all season? That would come Saturday morning against Feather River's No. 1 pair of Teya Gibbs and Mia Rivera, who entered the tournament as the No. 3 pair from the north.
The Mounties knew it would take everything they had — so they went out and played their absolute best volleyball of the season. And it showed.
Carson and Fisher battled point-for-point in a nail-biting opening set before narrowly falling 22-20 in extra points. Refusing to let the match slip away, the Mounties came right back in set two, playing fearless volleyball and earning a huge 21-19 win to force a deciding third set.
The Mounties fought until the very end before Feather River pulled away for a 15-9 victory.
While the loss ended Mt. SAC's 2026 beach volleyball season, Carson and Fisher walked off the sand with plenty to be proud of. Against some of the top pairs in the state, they showcased the talent, toughness, and heart of the Mountie program while helping highlight Mt. SAC as one of California's premier beach volleyball venues.
Thank you for all of the support this season. We'll see you back on the sand and under the sun next year for more Mountie beach volleyball.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
