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College of Charleston Beach Volleyball News

April 22, 2022

Contact | Whitney Noble, Associate Director of Athletics Communications & Creative Content

Office Phone | 843.953.3683 | E-Mail | [log in to unmask]

 

COUGARS SET PROGRAM RECORD WITH SWEEPS OF EKU AND MERCER AT ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- The College of Charleston beach volleyball team made program history on Friday afternoon establishing a new single-season record with its 21^st win of the campaign as the Cougars swept Eastern Kentucky and Mercer to open play in Pool A at the 2022 ASUN Championship at the John Hunt Sports Complex.

 

QUICK SETS

Final Score (Match One): No. 5 College of Charleston 5, No. 12 Eastern Kentucky 0

Final Score (Match Two): No. 5 College of Charleston 5, No. 8 Mercer 0

Location: Huntsville, Ala. (John Hunt Sports Complex)

Records: Charleston (21-11), Eastern Kentucky (5-17), Mercer (6-25)

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The fifth-seeded Cougars came out firing on all cylinders in their first dual of the weekend posting a clean sweep of No. 12 Eastern Kentucky allowing only the Colonels past 13 only once in five straight-set victories. Charleston then made quick work of a red-hot Mercer team coming off a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 9 Stephen F. Austin, sweeping the Bears with only one flight going past two sets.

 

PAIR OF THE DAY

Gabi Bailey and Kyra Thompson set the tone for the Cougars cruising to a pair of straight-set victories to move to 21-3 on the season. The duo opened the day with a comfortable 21-8, 21-10 win in the third flight against EKU before posting a 21-13, 21-11 victory against the Bears’ third pairing.

 

NOTABLES

·      Charleston sets a new single-season record with its 21^st win of the campaign surpassing the previous mark of 20 established in 2019.

·      With their two victories, Bailey and Thompson moved into sole possession of second place on the single-season pairs wins list and are one shy of equaling the top total of 22.

·      Bailey and Thompson each surpassed the individual single-season record with 23 wins apiece this season, while Emma Reames and Emma Falk are now tied for fifth with 20.

·      Sky Benjamin became the eighth player in program history to reach 40 dual wins on Friday partnering with Reames for a pair of victories.

·      With two wins today, senior Amani Dunston moves into ninth on the all-time wins list with 38 to her credit.

 

No. 5 College of Charleston 5, No. 12 Eastern Kentucky 0

1. Sky Benjamin/Ella Reames (COFC) def. Paityn Walker/Sarah Mitchell (EKU) 21-13, 21-13

2. Amani Dunston/Sofie Vogel (COFC) def. Shannon Stone/Maddy Campbell (EKU) 21-15, 21-13

3. Kyra Thompson/Gabi Bailey (COFC) def. Kaylin Johnson/Miya Carmichael (EKU) 21-8, 21-10

4. Maria Zweig/Jasmin Goei (COFC) def. Kali Walker/Sydney Schoen (EKU) 21-10, 21-8

5. Rebeca Olariu/Emma Falk (COFC) def. Valerie Franklin/Mikayla Logan (EKU) 21-9, 21-10

 

No. 5 College of Charleston 5, No. 8 Mercer 0

1. Sky Benjamin/Ella Reames (COFC) def. Olivia Boeve/Lexi Polychrones (MER) 17-21, 22-20, 15-8

2. Amani Dunston/Sofie Vogel (COFC) def. Reese Hood/Jordan Paddock (MER) 21-18, 21-9

3. Kyra Thompson/Gabi Bailey (COFC) def. Nicole O'Mara/Sydney Benson (MER) 21-13, 21-11

4. Maria Zweig/Jasmin Goei (COFC) def. Alyssa Scoggins/Ellie Miller (MER) 21-8, 21-19

5. Rebeca Olariu/Emma Falk (COFC) def. Kathryn Corbett/Jordan Morris (MER) 21-16, 21-17

 

NEXT UP

The Cougars will continue their run in the ASUN Championship with two matches on Saturday taking on No. 4 seed UNCW at 12:30 p.m. before squaring off against No. 9 Stephen F. Austin at 3:30 p.m. at the John Hunt Sports Complex.

 

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