Beach Volleyball Closes Regular Season Saturday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina beach volleyball wrapped up its regular season at home Saturday, with a 4-1 loss to Coastal Carolina (24-8) and 3-2 loss against No. 15 Georgia State (22-12). The Gamecocks enter the postseason with an 18-14 overall record.

Against Coastal Carolina, the Gamecocks fell into a 2-0 deficit early, punctuated by a three-set loss on court four after taking the opening set. Needing all three of the top pairings, the home side would not be able to complete the comeback. The Chanticleers won in straight sets on court three to clinch the team victory at 3-0, South Carolina’s lone point would come from a decisive win at the top position, with Skylar Allen and Riley Whitesides winning 21-13, 21-12.

In the finale against Georgia State, the two sides split a pair of three-set matches to open the game. The Panthers won, 21-16, 19-21, 15-12, on court five, but the Gamecocks evened the score thanks to Morgan Downs and Peyton Yamagata. The pair won the fourth flight with a 21-13, 19-21, 15-10 score. Out of the 1-all tie, both sides vyed for the early momentum. The visitors took it thanks to first-set wins on courts two and three, while Allen and Whitesides continued to roll and took their opening set on court one. South Carolina rallied early in the second sets, leading on all three courts, but Georgia State took the 2-1 lead after winning 21-17, 21-19 on court two. Allen and Whitesides wrapped up their sweep on one, but Allison Coens and Hannah Mackenhausen came just shy of forcing a third set on court three and fell 21-18, 24-22 for the final point.

UP NEXT
The team will await its postseason matchup with the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association’s conference tournament up next. The event begins Friday in Hunstville, Ala. For continued updates on the team and its upcoming schedule, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.

RESULTS
Coastal Carolina 4, South Carolina 1

1. Skylar Allen/Riley Whitesides (SC) def. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU) 21-13, 21-12
2. Julia Blazek/Emma Plutnicki (CCU) def. Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (SC) 24-22, 21-19
3. Emma Kunaus/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Allison Coens/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) 21-17, 21-19
4. Denisse Morgenstern/Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Morgan Downs/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 12-21, 21-18, 15-10
5. Raychel Ehlers/Madison Allred (CCU) def. VB Trost/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) 21-19, 21-16
6. Chase Teal/Evie Ziffer (SC) def. Elena Sanchez/Emma Gonzalez (CCU) 21-15, 21-17

Order of Finish: 5,4,3*,1,2
*- Deciding Point

#15 Georgia State 3, South Carolina 2

1. Skylar Allen/Riley Whitesides (SC) def. Lila Bordis/Aree Keller (GSU) 21-14, 21-17
2. Angel Ferary/Bella Ferary (GSU) def. Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (SC) 21-17, 21-19
3. Savannah Ebarb/Destiny White (GSU) def. Allison Coens/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) 21-18, 24-22
4. Morgan Downs/Peyton Yamagata (SC) def. Courtney Smith/Alya Johnson (GSU) 21-13, 19-21, 15-10
5. Elise Saga/Aliisa Vuorinen (GSU) def. VB Trost/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) 21-16, 19-21, 15-12
6. Amanda Chambers/Kaebre Sullivan (GSU) def. Sadie Nelson/Kristen Schenck (SC) 15-21, 21-19, 15-12

Order of Finish: 5,4,2,1,3*
*- Deciding Point