What you need to know:
* Georgia State fell to No. 1 USC 5-0 before closing out the Gamecock Invitational with a win over No. 9 South Carolina 3-2 Sunday evening.
* The Panthers (11-8, 3-1) finished the tournament strong by winning matches in the No. 1, 2 and 5 flights versus the Gamecocks to come home with the victory.
* GSU returns home to host the Diggin' Duals at the GSU Beach Volleyball Complex this Saturday and Sunday. The team kicks off the tournament with LSU Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 9 Georgia State dropped the third match of the Gamecock Invitational 5-0 to No. 1 USC, but fought back to defeat host South Carolina 3-2 Sunday evening at Wheeler Beach. The Panthers are now 5-0 all-time versus the Gamecocks.
GSU played in closely-contested matches all weekend and will look to build on these performances at home starting this Saturday.
“South Carolina hosted a well-run, competitive event this weekend,” head coach Beth Van Fleet said. “Each dual forced us to adapt and grow in a different way. We continued focusing on our side of the net and making subtle adjustments at crucial points in each set. I am so proud of the fight that each pair displayed in the South Carolina match and the resilience they showed from the previous duals.”
In the No. 1 flight, Delaney Rohan and Chelsea Ross defeated South Carolina's Adrianna Culbert and Ali Denney to give GSU a 2-1 lead in the match. The win capped off a 3-1 weekend for the pair. Rohan and Ross improved to 13-6 on the season.
LeeAnn Starr and Haley Pa'akaula came out on top in straight sets in the No. 2 flight to get GSU on the board. Freshmen Olivia Stasevich and Georgia Johnson clinched the match for the Panthers with a three-set victory in the No. 5 flight.
Georgia State will return to action in the friendly confines of the GSU Beach Volleyball Complex this weekend. The Panthers will battle LSU and Lincoln Memorial on Saturday before concluding the tournament with UAB and Jacksonville State Sunday. First serve between GSU and LSU is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.
Beach Volleyball Match Results
Georgia State vs Southern California
Mar 26, 2017 at Columbia, S.C.
(Wheeler Beach)
#1 Southern California 5, #9 Georgia State 0
- Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Chelsea Ross/Delaney Rohan (GSU) 21-9, 21-11
- Allie Wheeler/Sophie Bukovec (USC) def. Haley Pa'akaula/LeeAnn Starr (GSU) 14-21, 21-16, 15-13
- Nicolette Martin/Terese Cannon (USC) def. Natalie Wilson/Amie Held (GSU) 21-9, 21-14
- Abril Bustamante/Joy Dennis (USC) def. Jessica Fourspring/Brooke Weiner (GSU) 21-15, 21-16
- Jo Kremer/Jenna Belton (USC) def. Georgia Johnson/Olivia Stasevich (GSU) 21-19, 21-12
Ext. Lainy Thomas/Katrina Kernochan (USC) def. Ashley McGinn/Maddie Gordon (GSU) 21-16, 21-5
Match Notes:
Georgia State 10-8; National ranking #9
Southern California 16-0; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (4,2,3,5,1);
Beach Volleyball Match Results
Georgia State vs South Carolina
Mar 26, 2017 at Columbia, S.C.
(Wheeler Beach)
#9 Georgia State 3, #9 South Carolina 2
- Chelsea Ross/Delaney Rohan (GSU) def. Adrianna Culbert/Ali Denney (SC) 21-15, 26-24
- LeeAnn Starr/Haley Pa'akaula (GSU) def. Katie Zimmerman/Katie Smith (SC) 21-13, 21-19
- Julia Mannisto/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Brooke Weiner/Jessica Fourspring (GSU) 21-14, 16-21, 15-11
- Shannon Williams/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Natalie Wilson/Amie Held (GSU) 13-21, 21-16, 15-9
- Olivia Stasevich/Georgia Johnson (GSU) def. Jade Vitt/Franky Harrison (SC) 14-21, 21-19, 15-11
Ext. Kate Novack/Allie Elson (GSU) def. AJ Baumann/Delaney Wood (SC) 21-15, 21-10
Match Notes:
Georgia State 11-8; National ranking #9
South Carolina 11-5; National ranking #9
Order of finish: Doubles (2,4,1,5,3);
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