COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina women's beach volleyball team wrapped up its regular-season action by going 1-1 on the final day of the Palmetto Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, S.C.
 
The Chants fell to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 4-1 before knocking off the College of Charleston 3-2 in their final match of the day.
 
With the split, Coastal Carolina moved to 22-11 overall on the season.
 
Match 1: Florida Gulf Coast 4, Coastal Carolina 1
The Sandy Chants fell behind early in their first match on the day, as the team of Emma Gonzalez and Elena Sanchez fell to Jacqueline Carpenter and Kristina Gluc in three sets 19-21, 21-11, 15-13 on court No. 5 to trail 1-0. The tandem of Ellie Hanford and Emma Kunaus evened the match at 1-1 with a three-set 21-19, 19-21, 15-12 win over Kaitlyn Luebbers and Lexie Hamilton on court No. 4.
 
However, FGCU retook the lead at 2-1 with Shelby Beisner and Trinity Rosales winning 21-17, 21-12 straight-set win over Coastal's Sarlota Svobodova and Madie Lichty on court No. 2.
 
The Eagles clinched the match at 3-1 on court No. 1, as FGCU's Maddison Parmelly and Kacie Johnson earned a straight-set win at 21-12, 21-15 over CCU's Sarah Riedell and Martine Kragholm.
 
Despite having lost the match, the Chants' Raychel Ehlers and Madison Allred came up short at 21-17, 16-21, 15-12 in a three-set marathon to Dylan Brewer and Nicole De Oliveira for the final 4-1 margin.
 
Match 2: Coastal Carolina 3, Charleston 2
In their final match of the Palmetto Invitational, CCU defeated the Cougars 3-2, avenging a loss from last weekend to Charleston at the Coastal Carolina Invitational.
 
The Sandy Chants jumped to a 1-0 lead as Kunaus and Hanford knocked off Alli Grant Avery and Mikaela Dougherty 21-11, 21-9 on court No. 5.
 
The Cougars knotted the match at 1-1 on court No. 1, as Kyra Thompson and Gabi Bailey upended Riedell and Kragholm 21-15, 21-19, only to see the tandem of Ehlers and Allred push the Sandy Chants back in front at 2-1 with a 23-21, 18-21, 15-11 three-set win over Kora Hansen and Emma Falk on court No. 3.
 
However, on court No. 4, the duo of Sofie Vogel and Tynley Smeltzer defeated Sanchez and Gonzalez 21-17, 21-14 to tie the match once again at 2-2.
 
With the match on the line, CCU's team of Svobodova and Lichty picked up a 21-10, 21-17 straight-set win over Ella Reames and Maria Zweig on court No. 2 to put the final score at 3-2.
 
The Sandy Chants will next compete in the 2023 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship scheduled for April 27-29 in Huntsville, Ala., at the Joh Hunt Sand Volleyball Complex.
 
Results
 
Florida Gulf Coast 4, Coastal Carolina 1
1. Maddison Parmelly/Kacie Johnson (FGCU) def. Sarah Riedell/Martine Kragholm (CCU)  21-12, 21-15
2. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) def. Sarlota Svobodova/Madie Lichty (CCU) 21-17, 21-12
3. Dylan Brewer/Nicole De Oliveira (FGCU) def. Madison Allred/Raychel Ehlers (CCU) 21-17, 16-21, 15-12
4. Ellie Hanford/Emma Kunaus (CCU) def. Kaitlyn Luebbers/Lexie Hamilton (FGCU) 21-19, 19-21, 15-12
5. Jacqueline Carpenter/Kristina Gluc (FGCU) def. Emma Gonzalez/Elena Sanchez (CCU) 19-21, 21-11, 15-13
Ext. Riley Melton/Sydney Schwanbeck (CCU) vs Lily Felts/Mia Thompson (FGCU) 21-23, 21-18, uf
 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2, 1, 3
 
Coastal Carolina 3, Charleston 2
1. Kyra Thompson/Gabi Bailey (CofC) def. Sarah Riedell/Martine Kragholm (CCU) 21-18, 22-20
2. Sarlota Svobodova/Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Ella Reames/Maria Zweig 21-10, 21-17
3. Madison Allred/Raychel Ehlers (CCU) def. Kora Hansen/Emma Falk (CofC) 23-21, 18-21, 15-11
4. Sofie Vogel/Tynley Smeltzer (CofC) def. Elena Sanchez/Emma Gonzalez (CCU) 21-17, 21-14
5. Ellie Hanford/Emma Kunaus (CCU) def. Alli Grant Avery/Mikaela Dougherty (CofC) 21-11, 21-9
 
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 4, 2
 
For complete coverage of Coastal Carolina beach volleyball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalBeachVB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.