Two local beach volleyball teams earned coveted “AAA” ratings this weekend at the California Beach Volleyball Association’s Santa Barbara “AA” men’s and women’s tournaments at East Beach.
Emma Zuffelato combined with Maddie Leiphardt to capture the women’s title and a “AAA” rating. They defeated Gabrielle Trotter/Elizabeth Holland in the one-game final, 28-17.
Zuffelato is an alum of Santa Barbara High and a member of the Cal Poly beach volleyball team. Leiphardt graduated from Dos Pueblos in 2013 and played college indoor and beach volleyball at SBCC and Cal State Northridge.
To reach the final, Zuffelato/Leiphardt knocked off Sophie Ward/Olivia Medina, 28-24, and Trotter/Holland topped Morgan Gatzlaff/Krystal Vander Ark, 28-22.
On the men’s side, Solvang’s Andrew Nielsen/Nate Rogers beat Nick Schultz/Rocky Brazier for the “AAA” rating and tournament title, 28-18.
Nielsen and Rogers were high school teammates at Santa Ynez High back in 2019. Rogers is the son of 2008 Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist and two-time Olympian Todd Rogers, an alum of San Marcos High and UC Santa Barbara. Schultz, a Dos Pueblos alum, and Brazier both played indoor volleyball at SBCC last year.
In the semifinals, Nielsen/Rogers beat the Santa Barbara High duo of Hayes Costner/Huxley McGetrick, while Schultz/Brazier defeated locals James Kiffe/Nathaniel Grimes.
