HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The No. 3 Coastal Carolina women's beach volleyball team advanced to the championship match at the 2023 Sun Belt Women's Beach Volleyball Championship, falling to the top seed and No. 14 nationally-ranked Georgia State Panthers 3-0 on Saturday in Huntsville, Ala.
The Chants defeated the No. 6 Southern Miss Eagles 5-0 in the contender's bracket to move into the championship match versus the Panthers
With the split on the day, Coastal Carolina moved to 25-13 overall. The 25 wins set a new program record for the most wins in a single season.
Match 1 – (3) Coastal Carolina 5, (6) Southern Miss 0
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 21-19, 21-6 straight-set win over Ashlyn Rough and Morgan Perry on court No. 4 to lead 1-0.
The tandem of
Raychel Ehlers and
Madison Allred increased the CCU advantage to 2-0 with a second straight-set 21-10, 21-15 win over Reagan Sandlin and Valeria Siakidou Papkyriakou on court No. 3.
The Chants' team of
Ellie Hanford and
Emma Kunaus won 21-15, 21-14 in straight sets over Madison Cassidy and Kellie Garraway on court No. 5 to clinch the match.
The Chanticleers pushed their lead to 4-0 on court No. 1, as CCU's
Sarah Riedell and
Martine Kragholm knocked off Vanessa Hurnikova and Ola Chudzik 19-21, 23-21, 15-12 in three sets to keep the sweep intact.
The Women in Teal completed the sweep on court No. 2, as Coastal's
Sarlota Svobodova and
Madie Lichty needed three sets at 22-24, 21-15, 15-10 to complete the 5-0 sweep over Hallie Phelan and Taylor Pierce.
Match 2 (Championship) – (1) No. 14 Georgia State 3, (3) Coastal Carolina 0
In the SBC Women's Beach Volleyball Championship match, CCU fell to the Panthers 3-0, but led in the two unfinished matches.
Georgia State jumped out to a 1-0 lead as the SBC Pair of the Year Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary defeated Kragholm and Riedell in straight sets 21-13, 21-18 on court No. 1.
On court No. 3, the Panthers increased their lead to 2-0 as the tandem of Kelly Dorn and Elise Saga won 21-15, 21-12 over Ehlers and Allred.
GSU clinched the match with its third straight-set win of the day, as Maddy Delmonte and Ayla Johnson took down CCU's duo of Gonzalez and Sanchez 21-18, 21-17 on court No. 4.
With the match decided at 3-0, the final two matches went unfinished. Coastal's Svobodova and Lichty were leading Yasmin Kuck and Lila Bordis 21-15, 18-20 on court No. 2, while on court No. 5 CCU's duo of Kunaus and Hanford was in front of Destiny White and Aliisa Vuroinen 21-19, 15-20 on court No. 5.
Results
Match 1 – (3) Coastal Carolina 5, (6) Southern Miss 0
1.
Sarah Riedell /
Martine Kragholm (CCU) def. Vanessa Hurnikova / Ola Chudzik (USM), 19-21, 23-21, 15-12
2.
Sarlota Svobodova /
Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Hallie Phelan / Taylor Pierce (USM), 22-24, 21-15, 15-10
3.
Madison Allred /
Raychel Ehlers (CCU) def. Reagan Sandlin / Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM), 21-10, 21-15
4.
Emma Gonzalez /
Elena Sanchez (CCU) def. Ashlyn Rough / Morgan Perry (USM), 21-19, 21-6
5.
Ellie Hanford /
Emma Kunaus (CCU) def. Madison Cassidy / Kellie Garraway (USM), 21-15, 21-14
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 5, 1, 2
Match 2 (Championship) – (1) No. 14 Georgia State 3, (3) Coastal Carolina 0
1. Angel Ferary / Bella Ferary (GSU) def.
Sarah Riedell /
Martine Kragholm (CCU), 21-13, 21-18
2. Yasmin Kuck / Lila Bordis (GSU) vs.
Sarlota Svobodova /
Madie Lichty (CCU), 15-21, 20-18 (DNF)
3. Kelly Dorn / Elise Saga (GSU) def.
Madison Allred /
Raychel Ehlers (CCU), 21-15, 21-12
4. Maddy Delmonte / Ayla Johnson (GSU) def.
Emma Gonzalez /
Elena Sanchez (CCU), 21-18, 21-17
5. Destiny White / Aliisa Vuroinen (GSU) vs.
Ellie Hanford /
Emma Kunaus (CCU), 19-21, 20-15 (DNF)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4
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.
