Beach Volleyball Splits Results in Pool Play of Big 12 Tournament

TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 15 South Carolina beach volleyball team split results on the first day of the 2026 Big 12 Beach Volleyball Tournament in Tucson, Ariz. In pool play, the Gamecocks defeated fifth-seed Boise State, 4-1, but fell short to the top-seeded Florida State, 4-1.

Against the Broncos, the Gamecocks set the tone early, earning four out of five first-set wins. First to finish was Brooke Balue and Rachel Hartmann from the No. 2 spot. They grabbed a 21-16, 21-12 over the Broncos. Juju Quintero and Julia Waugh followed their lead with a 24-22, 21-16 win from court four. At the No. 1 pair, Jolie Cranford and Peyton Yamagata had to fight it out in a third set after falling short in the second. Morgan Downs and Amelia Taft were going back and forth with Boise State in the second set, trying to stop a third set. The two teams traded points until the Gamecock duo was able to run away with a 25-23 win, giving South Carolina a 3-0 lead. Ziffer and Lawson picked up another point for the Gamecocks, bouncing back from a first-set loss. Despite battling hard, Boise State was able to grab its lone point of the match from court one.

To start off the second match of the day, Ziffer and Lawson picked up a 21-14 first-set win from court three. They went on to put South Carolina on the board with a 21-19 set two win. The Seminoles were able to grab wins on courts one and two to edge ahead. FSU picked up a win on court five to clinch the match.

The Gamecocks will be back in action tomorrow for the first round of single-elimination bracket play. South Carolina will face the No. 3 seed from Pool B.

No. 15 South Carolina 4, Boise State 1

1. Allyson Alden/Addison Wolden (BSU) def. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 18-21, 21-15, 15-10
2. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (SC) def. Avery Allen/Ava Anderson (BSU) 21-16, 21-12
3. Evie Ziffer/Lauren Lawson (SC) def. Serena van der Made/Keira Demirjian (BSU) 18-21, 21-16, 15-9
4. Juju Quintero/Julia Waugh (SC) def. Elli Wolthuis/Addison Moss (BSU) 24-22. 21-16
5. Morgan Downs/Amelia Taft (SC) def. Charlee Ellena/Lily Patock (BSU) 21-19, 25-23

No. 15 South Carolina 1, No. 4 Florida State 4

1. Alexis Durish/Audrey Koenig (FSU )def. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (SC) 21-14, 21-15
2. Gella Andrew/Maddie Trusty (FSU) def. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (SC) 21-11, 21-15
3. Evie Ziffer/Lauren Lawson (SC) def. Kenzie Hultquist/Iane Henke (FSU) 21-14, 21-19
4. Myriah Massey/Bailey Higgins (FSU) def. Juju Quintero/Julia Waugh (SC) 21-19, 21-15
5. Kyleene Filimaua/Saofe Duval (FSU) def. Morgan Downs/Amelia Taft (SC) 21-17, 21-10