TAMPA, Fla. – The Coastal Carolina beach volleyball team earned its first win in program history over Florida Gulf Coast before falling just short against No. 20 Tampa on day one of the Tampa Invite.

Coastal Carolina moves to 5-5 on the season.
 
Match 1: Coastal Carolina 3, FGCU 2
 
In the first match of the day, Coastal jumped out to an early lead as Ellie Hanford and Emma Kunaus grabbed a 23-21, 21-17 win on court one. Madie Lichty and Denisse Morgenstern followed with a huge comeback victory at the No. 5 flight, winning 16-21, 21-13, 15-10 to put the Chants ahead 2-0.

Florida Gulf Coast answered with a win on court three and had an early lead on court one, but Martine Kragholm and Sarah Riedell rallied to force a third set before erasing a 10-8 deficit to clinch the match with a 16-21, 21-14, 15-12 victory. The win marked Coastal's first victory ever over the Eagles.
 
Match 2: No. 20 Tampa 3, Coastal Carolina 2
 
Coastal fell behind 2-0 against the Spartans before Kragholm and Riedell cruised to a dominant 21-15, 21-6 win at the top flight to put the Chanticleers on the board. The Chants' comeback effort fell just short as Tampa secured the win on court three before Julia Blazek and Emma Plutnicki closed the match with a rally at the No. 2 flight for a 22-24, 21-18, 15-11 win.

The Sandy Chants face Houston Christian at 8:00 a.m. and No. 4 Florida State at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Results
 
Coastal Carolina 3, FGCU 2
1. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU) def. Kacie Johnson/Emma Soncrant (FGCU): 16-21, 21-14, 15-12
2. Shelby Beisner/Trinity Rosales (FGCU) def. Julia Blazek/Emma Plutnicki (CCU): 32-30, 21-18
3. Nicole De Oliveira/Kaitlyn Luebbers (FGCU) def. Madison Allred/Raychel Ehlers (CCU): 21-12, 21-14
4. Ellie Hanford/Emma Kunaus (CCU) def. Jaci Carpenter/Mia Thompson (FGCU): 23-21, 21-17
5. Madie Lichty/Denisse Morgenstern (CCU) def. Skylar English/Sydney Majick (FGCU): 16-21, 21-13, 15-10
 
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3, 1, 2
 
 
No. 20 Tampa 3, Coastal Carolina 2
1. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU) def. Olivia Margolies/Payton Brunick (UT): 21-15, 21-6
2. Julia Blazek/Emma Plutnicki (CCU) def. Teona Treskounov/Angel Williams: 22-24, 21-18, 15-11
3. Nevaeh Wolfe/Hailey Wolfe (UT) def. Ellie Hanford/Emma Kunaus (CCU): 11-21, 21-15, 16-14
4. Keely Hamilton/Madison Brunick (UT) def. Madison Allred/Raychel Ehlers (CCU): 21-12, 21-15
5. Cassidy Ehrie/Hailey Peterson (UT) def. Madie Lichty/Denisse Morgenstern (CCU): 21-13, 21-17

Order of finish: 4, 5, 1, 3, 2