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March 3, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina beach volleyball team will open its third season this weekend as it travels to Arizona for matches in Tempe and Phoenix.

The Gamecocks will compete in the Sun Devil Challenge, hosted by Arizona State, on Friday and Saturday before heading to Phoenix on Sunday to take on No. 15 Grand Canyon. Carolina will face Colorado Mesa (Noon) and No. 6 Florida State (4 p.m.) on Friday and New Mexico (4 p.m.) and Arizona State (9:15 p.m.) on Sunday.

The Sun Devil Challenge will take place at the PERA Club. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair).

South Carolina at a Glance
– The Gamecocks are in their third season under the direction of head coach Moritz Moritz after going 14-7 in the program’s second season in 2015.
– 11 players from last year’s roster are back.
– Carolina currently has a roster size of 20 players.
– Four of the players on this year’s roster ââ’¬” Sarah Blomgren, Darian Dozier, Aubrey Ezell, Emma Lock ââ’¬” are crossover players from the Carolina indoor program.
– South Carolina boasts a diverse roster as it has players from 11 different states, including Texas, Virginia, California, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, New Jersey and Missouri.

Gamecocks Set for Arizona
– The Gamecocks will open their 2016 season with the Sun Devil Challenge, hosted by Arizona State, in Tempe, Ariz.
– Carolina will face Colorado Mesa (Noon) and No. 6 Florida State (4 p.m.) on Friday and New Mexico (4 p.m.) and host Arizona State (9:15 p.m.) on Saturday.
– The Gamecocks will also head to Phoenix on Sunday to face No. 15 Grand Canyon in a dual match at 2 p.m.

Scouting Colorado Mesa
– The Mavericks are entering their inaugural season, becoming the 52nd NCAA school and the first school in Colorado to add a beach volleyball program.
– Colorado Mesa is led by David Skaff, who is in his seventh season as a member of the CMU volleyball coaching staff.
– CMU has 11 players on the roster, including one senior, two juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen.

Scouting No. 6 Florida State
– The Seminoles enter their program’s fifth season but first season under new head coach Brooke Niles.
– FSU went 13-6 last season but dropped matches against FIU and Hawaii in the 2015 AVCA Sand Volleyball National Championships.
– Florida State returns 16 from last year’s squad and welcomes six newcomers.
– Senior Kristina Pellitteri returns to lead Florida State. Pellitteri posted a 25-10 record last season with sophomore Victoria Paranagua.

Series History vs. FSU
– Florida State leads the all-time series with South Carolina 3-0.
– The Seminoles defeated the Gamecocks 4-1 in the teams’ only meeting last year at the Gamecock Invitational on March 21, 2015.

Scouting New Mexico
– New Mexico enters their second season of beach volleyball.
– The Lobos went 3-11 in 2015.
– New Mexico returns 10 players from last year’s roster.
– The Lobos’ return their top pair of Eastyn Baleto and Julia Warren. The tandem went 8-6 at Nos. 2, 3 and 4.

Scouting Arizona State
– The Sun Devils enter their third season of beach volleyball under the direction of interim head coach Jacquelyn Bunker.
– ASU went 7-13 in 2015.
– Arizona State returns seven from last year’s squad and add six new members.
– Junior Bianca Arellano returns to lead the Sun Devils. Arellano went 12-10 at the top two spots last season.

Series History vs. Arizona State
– South Carolina leads the all-time series with Arizona State 1-0.
– The Gamecocks won their only meeting with the Sun Devils 4-1 in the Gamecock Invitational last season on March 20, 2015.
– Arellano and partner Macey Gardner earned the lone point for ASU after defeating Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent 21-19, 23-21, 15-8 at No. 2.

Scouting No. 15 Grand Canyon
– The Lopes enter the program’s fourth season but first season under new head coach Kristen Rohr.
– GSU went 9-6 in the 2015 season.
– Grand Canyon returns 10 members of last year’s roster and added four new members this season.

Gamecocks on the SEC Network+
– Five Gamecock duals will be featured on the SEC Network+ digital platform during the 2016 season.
– Carolina’s home duals against College of Charleston on March 22, UAB and TCU on March 26 and Carson-Newman and Jacksonville on March 27 will be streamed on SEC Network+.
– SEC Network+ is exclusively available on SECNetwork.com and via WatchESPN through participating cable and satellite providers.