Volleyball News Courtesy USC Athletics:
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball team (13-0) posted another 4-1 victory over No. 4 Florida State (8-5) to open the Gamecock Grand Slam on the sands of Wheeler Beach and remained undefeated on the season on Saturday, March 25. The Women of Troy extended their winning streak to 43 consecutive duals and will face host No. 9 South Carolina (11-1) next.
Formatted such that pairs two and four played first, the Seminoles scored the first point of the dual from court four where Francesca Goncalves and Katie Horton posted a three-set win, 21-12, 12-21, 19-17, over USC’s duo of sophomore Abril Bustamante and freshman Joy Dennis. Pair No. 2 also went three sets, but the Trojans equalized the race to three points with their win by seniors Sophie Bukovec and Allie Wheeler. The tandem took down Vanessa Freire and Brooke Kuhlman, 21-17, 21-23, 15-11.
With the odd-numbered courts left to decide the dual, USC went on top, 2-1, after seniors Kelly Claes and Sara Hughes completed a 21-13, 21-12 win over Leigh Andrew and Sierra Sanchez at the top court for their 88th consecutive win together. The clinching point came from court five where juniors Jenna Belton and Jo Kremer delivered a 21-13, 21-18 knockout punch over Nikki Esposito and Hailey Luke. With the dual decided, USC’s No. 3 pair of junior Terese Cannon and senior Nicolette Martin put the finishing touches on a 4-1 win with a 21-17, 22-20 victory over Macy Jerger and Victoria Paranagua.
Up next, the Trojans take on No. 9-ranked tournament host South Carolina (11-1) at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) for their second match in the Gamecock Grand Slam. The top two pairs will be shown on SEC Network+.
For more information on the two-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, and Snapchat.
No. 1 USC def. No. 4 Florida State, 4-1
Gamecock Grand Slam — Dan Apol Memorial
Wheeler Beach | Columbia, S.C.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Records: USC (13-0), Florida State (8-5)
1. Kelly Claes/Sara Hughes (USC) def. Leigh Andrew/Sierra Sanchez (FSU); 21-13, 21-12
2. Sophie Bukovec/Allie Wheeler (USC) def. Vanessa Freire/Brooke Kuhlman (FSU); 21-17, 21-23, 15-11
3. Terese Cannon/Nicolette Martin (USC) def. Macy Jerger/Victoria Paranagua (FSU); 21-17, 22-20
4. Francesca Goncalves/Katie Horton (FSU) def. Abril Bustamante/Joy Dennis (USC); 21-12, 12-21, 19-17
5. Jenna Belton/Jo Kremer (USC) def. Nikki Esposito/Hailey Luke (FSU); 21-13, 21-18
Exh: Molly McBain/Eva Torruella (FSU) def. Katrina Kernochan/Lainy Thomas (USC); 21-17, 21-23, 15-13
Order of finish: 4, 2, 1, 5*, 3
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