Kingsville — Texas A&M University-Kingsville beach volleyball pair Emma Daugherty and Kastyn Hoffman have been named to the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association Top Flight award, capping off a remarkable season for the duo.
Daugherty and Hoffman compiled a 27-5 record at Flight 3 this season, surpassing the 75% win threshold required for Top Flight recognition. The pair is among 80 tandems representing 35 schools across all three NCAA divisions, NAIA, and Two-Year Colleges to earn the honor in the program's eighth year.
"Earning AVCA Top Flight honors is a reflection of their hard work, consistency, and trust in their partner," said head coach Gary Payne. "This award is about showing up every day and representing the program the right way."
The Top Flight nod comes on the heels of an unforgettable postseason run for the Javelinas. Competing in the AVCA Small College Championship, Daugherty and Hoffman proved to be the deciding pair on the sport's biggest stage. The Javelinas finished as National Champion Runner-Up, the program's best finish since 2019.
For their efforts, both Daugherty and Hoffman were named All-Americans following the tournament.
With a Runner-Up trophy, All-American honors, and now Top Flight recognition, Daugherty and Hoffman helped write one of the most memorable chapters in Javelina Beach Volleyball history.
