What you need to know:
* No. 8 Georgia State (16-3, 3-1 CCSA) split a pair of matches on the opening day of the FIU Surf & Turf Tournament, beating South Carolina before losing to No. 2 Southern Cal.
* The Panthers had won eight in a row before the defeat.
* GSU takes on FAU and No. 10 FIU on Saturday to wrap up the event.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Competing at the fourth annual FIU Surf & Turf on Friday, Georgia State's eighth-ranked beach volleyball team picked up another conference win, sweeping South Carolina before GSU's eight-game win streak was snapped in the afternoon with a 4-1 loss to No. 2 Southern Cal.
Georgia State played in the first match of the tournament, a 9 a.m. start against the Gamecocks. The Panthers didn't drop a set and completed the 5-0 sweep to improve to 3-1 in the CCSA this season. In the second matchup of the day, the Panthers took the defending champs to three sets on three courts, but came up short to fall to 16-3 on the year.
Brooke Weiner and Natalie Wilson pulled out the lone point for the Panthers as the duo battled to an 18-16 victory in Set 3 in the fourth flight.
Georgia State has two more big contests on Saturday as the Surf & Turf continues with a noon match versus FAU and a 4 p.m. match against the host No. 10 FIU Panthers. FAU defeated GSU earlier this season while the Panthers of Georgia State handed the Panthers of FIU a 4-1 loss back on March 12.
#8 Georgia State 5, South Carolina 0
1. Sara Olivova/Jansen Button (GSU) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SOCAR) 21-14, 21-10
2. Katelyn Rawls/Nina Interwies (GSU) def. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SOCAR) 21-12, 21-11
3. Brooke Weiner/Natalie Wilson (GSU) def. Macie Tendrich/Katie Riley (SOCAR) 22-20, 21-15
4. Milani Pickering/Delaney Rohan (GSU) def. Jade Vitt/Delany Wood (SOCAR) 21-12, 21-8
5. Jessica Fourspring/Alexis Townsend (GSU) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Lisa Darby (SOCAR) 21-12, 21-16
#2 Southern California 4, #8 Georgia State 1
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Sara Olivova/Jansen Button (GSU) 21-7, 21-12
2. Sophie Bukovec/Alexa Strange (USC) def. Nina Interwies/Katelyn Rawls (GSU) 21-13, 21-14
3. Allie Wheeler/Nicolette Martin (USC) def. Delaney Rohan/Milani Pickering (GSU) 21-17, 22-20
4. Brooke Weiner/Natalie Wilson (GSU) def. Jenna Belton/Abril Bustamante (USC) 21-14, 14-21, 18-16
5. Zoe Nightingale/Jo Kremer (USC) def. Jessica Fourspring/Alexis Townsend (GSU) 17-21, 21-13, 15-7
Live stats for this weekend's action can be found online at GeorgiaStateSports.com.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSUBeachVB) for the latest news.
