EMERSON, Ga. --- The College of Charleston beach volleyball team split with No. 12 Southern Mississippi and No. 1 Florida State on Friday afternoon on the first day of the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Beach Volleyball Championships, and will face ninth-seeded Tulane in Saturday morning's elimination round at the Rally Volleyball Complex.
 
College of Charleston (19-3) opened pool play with a 5-0 sweep of No. 12 Southern Miss. (11-19), dropping only two sets – one at one's and another at five's – before falling in straight sets to top-seeded and third-ranked Florida State (25-5) to finish second in Pool I.
 
College of Charleston 5, Southern Miss 0
 
Charleston opened the day with a sweep of Southern Miss to extend its single-season wins record to 19. The Cougars' No. 2 pairing of Devon Rachel (Louisville, Ky.) and McKala Rhodes (Charleston, S.C.) collected their 20^th dual win of the season with a 21-15, 21-12 victory to set a new single-season record, as Katja Ehlers (Raleigh, N.C.) and Taylor Foley (Agoura Hill, S.C.) cruised to a 21-7, 21-12 decision at five's.
 
Allison Beckman (Apex, N.C.) and Logan Manusky (San Diego, Calif.) turned in a 21-14, 21-15 win at four's, and Kennedy Madison (Evansville, Ind.) and Lauren Freed (Troy, Ohio) battled their way to a 21-8, 19-21, 15-13 win at one's. Amani Dunston (Agoura, Calif.) and Sky Benjamin (Easley, S.C.) rallied for a 22-24, 21-16, 15-12 victory at three's to complete the sweep.
 
#3 Florida State 5, College of Charleston 0
 
The Cougars fell to top-seeded and third-ranked Florida State, 5-0, in their second dual of the day. Madison and Freed fought hard in a 21-19, 21-16 setback at one's, as Beckman and Manusky battled through a 21-17, 21-13 decision at four's. Dunston and Benjamin fell at three's by scores of 21-11 and 21-16, while Rhodes and Rachel suffered a 21-11, 21-12 setback at two's. Ehlers and Foley were defeated at five's by scores of 21-8 and 21-12.
 
Charleston will face No. 9 Tulane in the elimination round on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. on courts 1-5. The winner will advance to Saturday afternoon's quarterfinal round against an opponent to be determined.
 
College of Charleston 5, Southern Miss 0
1. Kennedy Madison/Lauren Freed (COFC) def. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USM) 21-8, 19-21, 15-13
2. McKala Rhodes/Devon Rachel (COFC) def. Piper Matsumoto/Lindsey Legg (USM) 21-15, 21-12
3. Amani Dunston/Sky Benjamin (COFC) def. Breleigh Favre/Kellie Garraway (USM) 22-24, 21-16, 15-12
4. Allison Beckman/Logan Manusky (COFC) def. Cyan Blackdeer/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-14, 21-15
5. Katja Ehlers/Taylor Foley (COFC) def. Jessica Austin/Madison Lawler (USM) 21-7, 21-12
 
#3 Florida State 5, College of Charleston 0
1. Alaina Chacon/Madison Fitzpatrick (FSU) def. Kennedy Madison/Lauren Freed (COFC) 21-19, 21-16
2. Sara Putt/Payton Rund (FSU) def. McKala Rhodes/Devon Rachel (COFC) 21-11, 21-12
3. Brooke Kuhlman/Avery Poppinga (FSU) def. Amani Dunston/Sky Benjamin (COFC) 21-11, 21-16
4. Molly McBain/Payton Caffrey (FSU) def. Allison Beckman/Logan Manusky (COFC) 21-17, 21-13
5. Macy Jerger/Kate Privett (FSU) def. Katja Ehlers/Taylor Foley (COFC) 21-8, 21-12