CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina beach volleyball team went 1-1 versus a pair of regional foes on day one of the Carolina Challenge on Friday, as the Sandy Chants fell 4-1 to No. 18 South Carolina and defeated UNCW 4-1 on the day.
 
The split pushed the Chanticleers' record to 16-9 on the season.
 
No. 18 South Carolina 4, Coastal Carolina 1
In the first of two matches on the day, the Chanticleers posted a win on court No. 2 in a 4-1 loss to nationally-ranked South Carolina.
 
Down 1-0 with a loss on court No. 5 to start the match, CCU's tandem of Emma Gonzalez and Madison Allred picked up a 21-16 win in the first set on court No. 4 before the USC duo of Jillian Gleason and Hailey Cabeceiras battled back to take the next two sets at 21-15 and 15-11 to give the visiting Gamecocks at 2-0 match lead.
 
The Sandy Chants would then lose in three sets on both courts No. 1 (21-12, 18-21, 15-8) and No. 3 (21-19, 15-21, 15-9) to fall behind 4-0 before the team of Irena Drobnjak and Ellie Hanford defeated South Carolina's pair of Kaeli Crews and Hannah Mackenhausen in three sets at 21-16, 17-21, 15-8 on court No. 2 to spoil the shutout for the Gamecocks.
 
Coastal Carolina 4, UNCW 1
Coastal capped the first day of play at the Carolina Challenge with a 4-1 victory over the UNCW Seahawks.
 
The Chants battled their way out to an early 2-0 match lead as the team of Carli Ginther and Raychel Ehlers held on for a 22-20, 21-17 win on court No. 4, before the CCU duo of Gonzalez and Allred stormed back from a 21-12 first-set loss to take the next two sets at 21-17 and 15-13 on court No. 5.
 
The winning ways continued, as the top flight team of Martine Kragholm and Sarah Riedell picked up a 21-19, 21-15 victory to secure the match win, while Drobjnak and Hanford remained perfect on the day with a 21-20, 24-22 win on court No. 2 in the 4-1 win.
 
Day two of the Carolina Challenge will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET at the Coastal Carolina Beach Volleyball Complex.
 
Results
 
No. 18 South Carolina 4, Coastal Carolina 1
1. Skylar Allen/Jordan Smith (SC) def. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU) – 21-12, 18-21, 15-8
2. Irena Drobnjak/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Kaeli Crews/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) – 21-16, 17-21, 15-8
3. Lauren Wilcock/Abby Carroll (SC) def. Natalie Honzovicova/Madie Lichty (CCU) – 21-19, 15-21, 15-9
4. Alyssa Keller/Sammy Ansel (SC) def. Carli Ginther/Raychel Ehlers (CCU) – 21-13, 21-16
5. Jillian Gleason/Hailey Cabeceiras (SC) def. Emma Gonzalez/Madison Allred (CCU) – 16-21, 21-15, 15-11
Exh. Lizzie Thompson/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) vs. Kalin Eske/Elena Sanchez (CCU) – no result
 
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 3, 2
 
Coastal Carolina 4, UNCW 1
1. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU) def. Grace Sistrunk/Mattie Johnson (UNCW) – 21-19, 21-15
2. Irena Drobnjak/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Tessa Rogers/Sadie Sharkey (UNCW) – 21-10, 24-22
3. Ellie Bucci/Ashley Thompson (UNCW) def. Natalie Honzovicova/Madie Lichty (CCU) – 26-24, 21-18
4. Carli Ginther/Raychel Ehlers (CCU) def. Maddy Folks/Brianna Haggerty (UNCW) – 22-20, 21-17
5. Emma Gonzalez/Madison Allred (CCU) def. Kayley McLaughlin/Jadyn Barry (UNCW) – 12-21, 21-17, 15-13
Exh. Alyssa Eske/Elena Sanchez (CCU) vs. Tyla Cutrie/Holly Cornelius (UNCW) – 18-21, 25-23, unfinished
 
Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3
 
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