California junior Emma Donley has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 AVCA National Collegiate Beach Player of the Year Award, the organization announced Thursday.

Donley plays on the Golden Bears' No. 1 pair along with senior Portia Sherman, and the duo forms the No. 3 pair in the country according to TruVolley, Donley and Sherman enter this weekend's Stanford West Coast Classic with a record of 25-3, with nine victories over pairs from top 10 opponents and another six against duos that are nationally ranked. All three of their defeats have come against top 10 teams.

Donley is one of eight players nationally to be named a semifinalist for the award. Four finalists will be revealed before the beginning of the NCAA Championship with the winner will be named on May 1.


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