Charleston Takes Down Tulane, #11 South Carolina

Saturday, April 13

Columbia, S.C.

11:00 AM

College of Charleston

Tulane

4/13/2019 8:38:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. --- The College of Charleston beach volleyball team closed out the regular season in style on Saturday with victories over Tulane (RV) and No. 11 South Carolina to cap a perfect 4-0 weekend at South Carolina's Palmetto Invitational.

With the two victories, College of Charleston (18-2) establishes a new single-season program record with 18 wins. Today's victory over No. 11 South Carolina equals the highest ranked opponent the Cougars have defeated. The Cougars previously topped No. 11 Florida International in the 2018 season opener on Mar. 2, 2018. Charleston opened the day with a 5-0 victory over Tulane (16-14) before edging South Carolina (18-9) to close out the weekend.

College of Charleston 5, Tulane 0

Charleston opened the day with an impressive sweep of Tulane to set a new single-season program record with its 17^th win of the season. Katja Ehlers (Raleigh, N.C.) and Taylor Foley (Agoura Hill, S.C.) were awarded the fifth flight by forfeit to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead, before Allison Beckman (Apex, N.C.) and Logan Manusky (San Diego, Calif.) rallied for a 15-21, 21-10, 16-14 win at four's to put CofC ahead, 2-0.

Amani Dunston (Agoura, Calif.) and Sky Benjamin (Easley, S.C.) clinched the victory for the Cougars with a 21-16, 21-19 win at three's, as Devon Rachel (Louisville, Ky.) and McKala Rhodes (Charleston, S.C.) improved to 18-1 with a 21-19, 21-14 decision at two's. Kennedy Madison (Evansville, Ind.) and Lauren Freed (Troy, Ohio) completed the sweep with a 13-21, 25-23, 15-11 comeback win at one's.

College of Charleston 3, South Carolina 2

The Cougars capped the weekend in style with their first win over a ranked opponent in a 3-2 defeat of No. 11 South Carolina. Beckman and Manusky would set the tone with a 21-17, 21-15 win at four's to put the Cougars in front, before Ehlers and Foley won 21-19, 13-21, 15-12 to send Charleston into the final three pairing with a 2-0 advantage.

Rachel and Rhodes then delivered the clinching point at two's with a 21-15, 21-16 victory to finish the regular season with an outstanding 19-1 record. Dunston and Benjamin fell 10-21, 12-12 at three's, while Madison and Freed were defeated at one's by scores of 21-13 and 21-18.

Charleston now awaits the announcement of the final seedings for next weekend's Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Beach Volleyball Championships, to be held April 19-21 at the LakePoint Sporting Community in LakePoint, Ga.

College of Charleston 5, Tulane 0
1. Kennedy Madison/Lauren Freed (COFC) def. Eva Toruella/Kaylie McHugh (TUL) 13-21, 25-23, 15-11
2. Devon Rachel/McKala Rhodes (COFC) def. Lauren Orlich/Tarin Mergener (TUL) 21-19, 21-14
3. Amani Dunston/Sky Benjamin (COFC) def. Ellie Leitko/Haley Gibson (TUL) 21-16, 21-19
4. Allison Beckman/Logan Manusky (COFC) def. Morgan Esters/Gabriella Becerra (TUL) 15-21, 21-10, 16-14
5. Katja Ehlers/Taylor Foley (COFC) def. No player/No player (TUL), by forfeit

College of Charleston 3, #11 South Carolina 2
1. Shannon Williams/Cadie Bates (SC) def. Kennedy Madison/Lauren Freed (COFC) 21-13, 21-18
2. Devon Rachel/McKala Rhodes (COFC) def. Lydia Dimke/Katie Smith (SC) 21-15, 21-16
3. Franky Harrison/Hannah Edelman (SC) def. Amani Dunston/Sky Benjamin (COFC) 21-10, 21-12
4. Allison Beckman/Logan Manusky (COFC) def. Carly Schnieder/Lauryn Gillis (SC) 21-17, 21-15
5. Katja Ehlers/Taylor Foley (COFC) def. Whitley Ballard/Caroline Skaff (SC) 21-19, 13-21, 15-12
Ext. AJ Baumann/Delaney Wood (SC) def. Lauren Percy/Megan Morris (COFC) 21-14, 23-21