Beach Volleyball Drop Duals to Two Ranked Foes

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – South Carolina beach volleyball lost in two duals on Saturday, opening weekend play at the CCSA Midseason Tournament at No. 5 Florida State. The Gamecocks (10-8) lost a dual to No. 18 Grand Canyon (6-8) in the morning by a 3-2 score, then fell to the host Seminoles (17-2) in the afternoon, 4-1.

Against the ‘Lopes to start, the Gamecocks got their first point in the dual thanks to a 23-21, 21-19 sweep for Jolie Cranford and Morgan Downs on court four that evened the score at 1-1. The team pushed ahead briefly after a three-set win for Skylar Allen and Allison Coens on court two, 21-12, 14-21, 15-9, but Grand Canyon answered with a three-set win on court one.

It would all come down to a third set in the third flight, with Peyton Yamagata and Julia Waugh overcoming a first set loss to win 22-20 in the second. The duo had a slow start, trailing 6-2 early in the game to 15, but pushed back in windy conditions and had two chances to clinch the dual, at 14-12 and 14-13. GCU held them off both times, and ultimately clinched the win with a 20-18 final score in the third.

Against Florida State, Yamagata was able to get one back, taking the team’s lone point of the dual in a three-set win. The senior teamed with Morgan Downs to overcome a first set loss and won, 17-21, 21-18, 17-15, on court four. The Seminoles won in straight sets on courts two, three and five, and claimed a three-set decision on the top court for the 4-1 final margin.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks have two Sunday duals to wrap up the weekend in Tallahassee. South Carolina faces No. 8 LSU at 9 a.m. and Jacksonville at 2 p.m.

For continued updates on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.

RESULTS
No. 18 Grand Canyon 3, South Carolina 2

1. Krista Rowan/Sophia Hladyniuk (GCU) def. Riley Whitesides/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) 14-21, 21-13, 15-11
2. Skylar Allen/Allison Coens (SC) def. Karynn Garrow/Sarah Dickson (GCU) 21-12, 14-21, 15-9
3. Katie Keefe/Noelle Weintraub (GCU) def. Julia Waugh/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 21-19, 20-22, 20-18
4. Jolie Cranford/Brynlee Smith (SC) def. Madi Bogle/Becca Drake (GCU) 23-21, 21-19
5. Mackenzie Harris/Jessica Drake (GCU) def. VB Trost/Chase Teal (SC) 21-18, 21-16

Order of finish: 5,4,2,1,3*

No. 5 Florida State 4, South Carolina 1

1. Audrey Koenig/Skyler Germann (FSU) def. Skylar Allen/Allison Coens (SC) 21-11, 13-21, 15-10
2. Raelyn White/Alli Hansen (FSU) def. Hannah Mackenhausen/Riley Whitesides (SC) 21-13, 21-14
3. Alexis Durish/Anna Long (FSU) def. Julia Waugh/Jolie Cranford (SC) 21-18, 21-13
4. Morgan Downs/Peyton Yamagata (SC) def. Makenna Wolfe/Carra Sassack (FSU) 17-21, 21-18, 17-15
5. Caitlin Moon/Kaileigh Tuslow (FSU) def. VB Trost/Chase Teal (SC) 21-15, 21-13