CHARLESTON, S.C. --- All the nets are strung, the sand is groomed with precision and in just a few short hours, the College of Charleston beach volleyball team will take the court for the first time in 2021 at the UNF Beach Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla.
 
The Cougars will open the 2021 campaign with a challenging slate at the UNF Beach Invitational. Charleston is scheduled to face Erskine in the opening match of the season on Friday at 11:15 a.m. before taking on UNCW at 12:45 p.m. that afternoon. A matchup with Mercer awaits on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. and the Cougars will wrap up the weekend taking on the hosts North Florida at 12:15 p.m.
 
"I am so excited to get this group on the sand for competition," head coach Jason Kepner said. "We have a lot of new players getting their first college competition under their belt. It is a great opportunity to go on the road and play some good teams."
 
Charleston's lineup will feature a different look this season than in previous years due to the overlap between indoor and beach schedules this spring. The Cougars' beach-only players will feature prominently in the lineup for most of the season until the conclusion of indoor season, led by senior Ella Ridinger and junior Sky Benjamin.
 
Sophomores Kyra Thompson and Mikaela Dougherty are back in the fold as well, while the Cougars welcome junior transfer Ella Reames, sophomore transfer Lily Johnson and freshmen Jasmin Goei, Maria Zweig, Marie Martinsen and Rebeca Olariu to the sand as well. All of whom are expected to fill significant roles in the lineup.
 
Senior Logan Manusky and senior transfer Hazel Brown will travel to Jacksonville alongside the beach-only players for opening weekend and rejoin the rotation with the rest of the indoor roster in mid-April.