LSU Shocks LBSU 3-2 Advancing In NCAA Beach Tournament

2017 NCAA BEACH CHAMPIONSHIPS

• May 5-7, 2017
• Gulf Shores, Alabama
• Interactive Bracket
• Live Updates

The elimination bracket is underway with Florida State taking on South Carolina, while LSU will face Long Beach State. The winners of each of the matches will move on in the tournament, while the losers will go home.

Florida State def. South Carolina 3-0

1. Andrew/Kuhlman (FSU) def. Culbert/Smith (SC) 2-0, (25-23, 21-17)
2. Freire/Paranagua (FSU) def. Williams/Denney (SC) 2-0, (21-17, 21-19)
3. Sanchez/Jerger (FSU) def. Zimmerman/Tendrich (SC) 2-1, (21-14, 17-21, 15-13)
4. Horton/Goncalves (FSU) vs. Mannisto/Schnieder (SC) DNF
5. Luke/Torruella (FSU) vs. Harrison/Vitt (SC) DNF

Order of finish: 2, 1, 

Florida State’s top two pairs were able to take down their opponents in two sets, with Vanessa Freire and Victoria Paranagua (the #2 squad for FSU) defeating South Carolina’s Shannon Williams and Ali Denney 21-17, 21-19. The Seminoles top-line of Brooke Kuhlman and Leigh Andrew had a tougher first set bout with the Gamecock’s Adrianna Culbert and Katie Smith, with a 25-23 score. Kuhlman/Andrews made the second set, slightly, easier with a 21-17 win.

To clinch the Florida State victory was the #3 flight of Sierra Sanchez and Macy Jerger with a tough three-set win over South Carolina’s Katie Zimmerman and Macie Tendrich.

.@FSU_BeachVB is moving on! #NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/xhVmRMvanD

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) May 5, 2017

LSU def. Long Beach State 3-2

1. Coppola/Nuss (LSU) def. Barber/Nieto (LBSU) 2-1, (21-17, 18-21, 16-14)
2. Harward/Brinke (LBSU) def. Allen Ligon (LSU) 2-0, (21-15, 21-18)
3. Powers/Lindelow (LSU) def. Pekich/Karelov (LBSU) 2-1, (14-21, 21-19, 17-15)
4. Wagner/Weiss (LBSU) def. Leak/Molle (LSU) 2-1, (21-10, 17-21, 15-13)
5. Young/Davenport (LSU) def. Hudson/Kruidhof (LBSU) 2-0, (21-18, 21-18)

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

Long Beach State took the #2 flight, while LSU quickly turned around to tie it up at the #5 position 1-1, each in two sets. The remaining matches all went to three sets.

In the #4 spot, LBSU’s Ciana Wagner and Heather Weiss took down LSU’s Cati Leak and Callan Molle in a tight three set match-up to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The #1 pair for LSU, Claire Coppola and Kristen Nuss made a third set comeback over Nele Barber and Rachel Nieto. Coppola/Nuss struggled to find their groove early in the third but made a dramatic change to take the set 16-14, tying the match a 2-2.

The final point came down to the #2 line for LSU, where Olivia Powers and Katie Lindelow were able to push through a tough third set to down Kobi Pekich and Sasha Karelov 17-15 to claim the Tigers first ever NCAA Championship victory 3-2. (See the final point below.)

It doesn't get any closer than this! #NCAABeachVB pic.twitter.com/to0lbwSSuU

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) May 5, 2017

Elimination Round Schedule

• Florida State vs. loser of Pepperdine/UCLA
• LSU vs. loser of USC/Hawaii