Cougars Drop Two to Nationally-Ranked Foes

Saturday, February 29

Hilton Head, S.C.

10:30 AM

College of Charleston

Southern California

2/29/2020 5:00:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

USC Box Score (PDF)Grand Canyon Box Score (PDF)

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. --- Sky Benjamin and Ella Ridinger snatched a three-set victories at fours against No. 10 Grand Canyon as College of Charleston fell to No. 4 Southern California, 5-0, and No. 10 Grand Canyon, 4-1, to open the season at the Hilton Head Island Invitational.

QUICK SETS
Match One Final Score: No. 4 Southern California 5, College of Charleston 0
Match Two Final Score: No. 10 Grand Canyon 4, College of Charleston 1
Location: Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Records: Southern California (1-0), Grand Canyon (5-1), Charleston (0-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cougars gave the Women of Troy everything they had in the morning session including a 15-21, 16-21 effort from Lauren Freed and Mandy Napierala at one's as Southern California came away with a 5-0 sweep. Charleston split the points with Grand Canyon in the first wave thanks to a three-set win at four's by Benjamin and Ridinger. Freed and Napierala dropped a close battle at one's while Kayla Demari and Mikaela Dougherty split an unfinished match at sixes with a 28-26 first-set win.

PAIR OF THE DAY
Benjamin and Ridinger secured the Cougar's lone point of the day with a 21-19, 14-21, 15-12 victory at four's against Grand Canyon. The duo fell behind early in the first set against Southern California before dropping set two, 21-17.

No. 4 Southern California 5, College of Charleston 0
1. Hallgren, Haley/Harward, Hailey (USC) def. Lauren Freed/Mandy Napierala (COFC) 21-15, 21-16
2. Slater, Sammy/Doig, Kyla (USC) def. Amani Dunston/Claire Campbell (COFC) 21-18, 21-10
3. Nourse, Nicole/Nourse, Audrey (USC) def. Sky Benjamin/Ella Ridinger (COFC) 21-9, 21-17
4. Dennis, Joy/Hallgren, Harper (USC) def. Brooke Harris/Meghan Murphy (COFC) 21-11, 21-10
5. Kaiser, Maja/Ebertin, Mollie (USC) def. Logan Manusky/Molly Russell (COFC) 21-11, 21-16
Ext. Dreeuws, Paige/Dorn, Cammie (USC) def. Kyra Thompson/Caroline Bower (COFC) 21-8, 21-13

No. 10 Grand Canyon 4, College of Charleston 1
1. Teagan DeFalco/Bella Bauman (GCU) def. Mandy Napierala/Lauren Freed (COFC) 21-19, 21-17
2. Hannah Towne/Jessica Stansfield (GCU) def. Amani Dunston/Claire Campbell (COFC) 21-14, 21-12
3. Anaya Evans/Katie Sarber (GCU) def. Meghan Murphy/Brooke Harris (COFC) 21-14, 21-7
4. Sky Benjamin/Ella Ridinger (COFC) def. Katie Hess/Natalie Honzovicova (GCU) 21-19, 14-21, 15-12
5. Madi Relaz/Taylor Jarzombek (GCU) def. Logan Manusky/Molly Russell (COFC) 21-12, 21-14
Ext. Kayla Demari/Mikaela Dougherty (COFC) vs. Alyssa Vortouni/Madison Banter (GCU) 28-26, 11-21, unfinished