COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina beach volleyball team closed the regular season with a pair of win at the Gamecock Grand Slam on Saturday, knocking off No. 20 South Carolina 4-1 and beating Jacksonville 3-2.
 
With the wins, Coastal improves to 24-8 overall on the season.
 
Match 1: Coastal Carolina 4, No. 20 South Carolina 1
 
Searching for their first win ever over the Gamecocks, the Chants started strong as Madison Allred and Raychel Ehlers opened with a 21-19, 21-16 win on court five. Madie Lichty and Denisse Morgenstern followed with a 12-21, 21-18, 15-10 comeback win at the No. 4 flight to give Coastal a 2-0 lead.

Needing one point to clinch their first win over a ranked opponent this season, the Chanticleers sealed the win when Ellie Hanford and Emma Kunaus notched a 21-17, 21-1 victory on court three. Julia Blazek and Emma Plutnicki ended the match with a 24-22, 21-19 win at the No. 2 flight as the Chants handed South Carolina its first loss to an in-state opponent in five years.
 
Match 2: Coastal Carolina 3, Jacksonville 2
 
The Sandy Chants took the first point against the Dolphins as Morgenstern and Emma Gonzalez recorded a 21-14, 21-17 win at No. 5. Blazek and Plutnicki put the Chants up 2-1 with a 21-19, 21-18 win on court two.

The match came down to court three and Hanford and Kunaus delivered again, clinching the win with a dominant 21-15, 21-9 victory.

Coastal heads to Huntsville, Ala., next week for the Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship from Apr. 25-27.
 
Results
 
Coastal Carolina 4, No. 20 South Carolina 1

1. Skylar Allen/Riley Whitesides (SC) def. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU): 21-13, 21-12
2. Julia Blazek/Emma Plutnicki (CCU) def. Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (SC): 24-22, 21-19
3. Emma Kunaus/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Allison Coens/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC): 21-17, 21-19
4. Denisse Morgenstern/Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Morgan Downs/Peyton Yamagata (SC): 12-21, 21-18, 15-10
5. Raychel Ehlers/Madison Allred (CCU) def. VB Trost/Sophie Bengoechea (SC): 21-19, 21-16

 
Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 1, 2
 
 
Coastal Carolina 3, Jacksonville 2

1. Anna Erickson/Olivia Szyskiewicz (JU) def. Martine Kragholm/Sarah Riedell (CCU): 21-13, 23-21
2. Julia Blazek/Emma Plutnicki (CCU) def. Emily Kubicsko/Jenna McNamara (JU): 21-19, 21-18
3. Emma Kunaus/Ellie Hanford (CCU) def. Meredith Mrukowski/Claire Mrukowski (JU): 21-15, 21-9
4. Kristina Nika/Katie Martinez (JU) def. Raychel Ehlers/Madison Allred (CCU) 22-20, 21-18
5. Denisse Morgenstern/Emma Gonzalez (CCU) def. Hayden Garnett/Miller Reames (JU) 21-14, 21-17

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