HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The No. 3 Coastal Carolina women's beach volleyball team wrapped up its opening day of the 2023 Sun Belt Women's Beach Volleyball Championship by finishing 2-0 on Thursday afternoon in Huntsville, Ala.
 
The Chants defeated the No. 6 Southern Miss Eagles 3-1 before knocking off the No. 2 College of Charleston 3-0 to move on in the winner's bracket.
 
With the two wins, Coastal Carolina moved to 24-11 overall on the season.
 
For the opening day due to the threat of severe weather, all matches were played to a decision. Once a team has clinched a match with three wins, the match will end and any remaining pairs will not be played out.
 
Match 1 – (3) Coastal Carolina 3, (6) Southern Miss 1
The Sandy Chants jumped to the early lead in their first match on the day, as the team of Emma Gonzalez and Elena Sanchez put Coastal in front with a 21-14, 21-14 straight-set win over Ashlyn Rough and Morgan Perry on court No. 4 to lead 1-0. The tandem of Ellie Hanford and Emma Kunaus increased the CCU advantage at 2-0 with a second straight-set 21-18, 21-18 win over Madison Cassidy and Kellie Garraway on court No. 5.
 
However, Southern Miss cut the lead to 2-1 with Hallie Phelan and Taylor Pierce winning 21-17, 14-21, 15-11 in three sets over Coastal's Sarlota Svobodova and Madie Lichty on court No. 2.
 
The Chanticleers clinched the match at 3-1 on court No. 1, as CCU's Sarah Riedell and Martine Kragholm knocked off Vanessa Hurnikova and Ola Chudzik 21-15, 22-24, 15-10 in three sets.
 
Despite having clinched the match, the Chants' Raychel Ehlers and Madison Allred won 21-15, 22-24, 15-9 in a three-set marathon over Reagan Sandlin and Valeria Siakidou Papkyriakou.
 
Match 2: (3) Coastal Carolina 3, (2) Charleston 0
In their final match of the day at the SBC Women's Beach Volleyball Championship, CCU defeated the Cougars 3-0. With the win Coastal trails the overall series 6-8 and have won the last two meetings.
 
The Sandy Chants jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Kunaus and Hanford knocked off Alli Grant Avery and Liz Curry 21-13, 21-13 on court No. 5.
 
CCU's team of Svobodova and Lichty picked up an identical 21-13, 21-13 straight-set win over Emma Falk and Kora Hansen on court No. 2 to put the Chants up 2-0.
 
The tandem of Ehlers and Allred clinched the match at 3-0 with a 21-17, 21-15 straight-set win over Mickey Dougherty and Ellie Zweig on court No. 3.
 
With the match having been decided the final two matches went unfinished, as Coastal's Kragholm and Riedell were leading Kyra Thompson and Gabi Bailey 21-11, 15-21, 6-4 on court No. 1, while on court No. 4 CCU's duo of Gonzalez and Sanchez was up 22-20, 17-15 over Tynley Smeltzer and Sofie Vogel.  
 
The Sandy Chants will return to action in the 2023 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship scheduled for April 28 in Huntsville, Ala., at the Joh Hunt Sand Volleyball Complex, as Coastal Carolina will meet top-seed Georgia State.
 
Results
 
Match 1 – (3) Coastal Carolina 3, (6) Southern Miss 1
1. Sarah Riedell / Martine Kragholm (CCU) def. Vanessa Hurnikova / Ola Chudzik (USM), 21-15, 22-24, 15-10
2. Hallie Phelan / Taylor Pierce (USM) def. Sarlota Svobodova / Madie Lichty (CCU), 21-17, 14-21, 15-11
3. Madison Allred / Raychel Ehlers (CCU) def. Reagan Sandlin / Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM), 21-15, 22-24, 14-9 (UF)
4. Emma Gonzalez / Elena Sanchez (CCU) def. Ashlyn Rough / Morgan Perry (USM), 21-14, 21-14
5. Ellie Hanford / Emma Kunaus (CCU) vs. Madison Cassidy / Kellie Garraway (USM), 21-18, 21-18
 
Order of finish:  4, 5, 2, 1
 
Match 2 – (3) Coastal Carolina 3, (2) Charleston 0
1. Sarah Riedell / Martine Kragholm (CCU) vs. Kyra Thompson / Gabi Bailey (Charleston), 21-11, 15-21, 6-4 (UF)
2. Sarlota Svobodova / Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Emma Falk / Kora Hansen (Charleston), 21-13, 21-13
3. Madison Allred / Raychel Ehlers (CCU) def. Maria Zweig / Mickey Dougherty (Charleston), 21-17, 21-15
4. Emma Gonzalez / Elena Sanchez (CCU) vs. Tynley Smeltzer / Sofie Vogel (Charleston), 22-20, 17-15
5. Ellie Hanford / Emma Kunaus (CCU) def. Alli Grant Avery / Liz Curry (Charleston), 21-13, 21-13
 
Order of Finish: 5, 2, 3
 
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.