Second-ranked Hawaii was given the No. 2 seed in next month’s AVCA Collegiate Sand Championships it was announced Monday.

The SandBows (15-1) open play on May 1 in Gulf Shores, Ala., against seventh-seeded Long Beach State (13-4). On April 11, Hawaii defeated the 49ers  3-2, rallying from being down 0-2, at the AVCA Beach Collegiate Sand Challenge in Hermosa Beach, Calif.

Earning the top seed is No. 1 USC (24-0), the only team to beat Hawaii this season. Seeded third is Florida International followed by defending champion Pepperdine, Georgia State, Florida State, Long Beach State and Stetson. Pepperdine defeated USC for last year’s title with Hawaii and Florida State sharing third.

The event begins with the team championship May 1 and 2. The top eight pairs from the team event move on to the pairs tournament, which begins May 2 with 10 “Best of the Rest” pairs playing for a spots in the bracket. The pairs championship will be decided May 3.

This is the final year of AVCA sponsorship. The NCAA will begin sponsorship of the sport, its 90th championship, next season.