CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston beach volleyball won a pair of 3-2 thrillers over UNCW and Jacksonville to start the weekend at the UNCW Invitational.
 
Gabi Bailey and Kyra Thompson had the match-winning point in the opener against UNCW then Kora Hansen and Emma Falk had the winner against Jacksonville to cap the day.
 
Quick Sets
Final (Match One): Charleston 3, UNCW 2
Final (Match Two): Charleston 3, Jacksonville 2
Location: Wilmington, N.C.
Records: Charleston (13-6, 4-3 Sun Belt), UNCW (9-7, 1-4 Sun Belt), Jacksonville (8-14)
 
How It Happened

• Charleston fell behind with a loss on the fifth court of the first match but rebounded with three-straight wins on courts one, two and four to claim the Sun Belt win over UNCW.
• Gabi Bailey and Kyra Thompson had the match-clinching point at the top flight taking a three-set thriller.
• Charleston and Jacksonville traded the first four points before a three-set win from Emma Falk and Kora Hansen on the third flight sealed a Cougar victory.

 
Charleston 3, UNCW 2

1. Gaby Bailey/Kyra Thompson (CofC) def. Gabby LaPata/Sadie Sharkey (UNCW) 21-14, 16-21, 15-10
2. Ella Reames/Maria Zweig (CofC) def. Ellie Bucci/Lyvia Trimp (UNCW) 21-17, 18-21, 15-13
3. Ashley Thompson/Bri Haggerty (UNCW) def. Emma Falk/Kora Hansen (CofC) 21-13, 19-21, 16-14
4. Tynley Smeltzer/Sofie Vogel (CofC) def. Maddy Folks/Jadyn Barry (UNCW) 21-18, 16-21, 15-11
5. Morgan Smith/Kaley McLaughlin (UNCW) def. Alexa Psotka/Mikaela Dougherty (CofC) 21-19, 21-17

Charleston 3, Jacksonville 2

1. Jenna McNamara/Emily Kubicsko (JU) def. Kyra Thompson/Gabi Bailey (CofC) 30-28, 21-18
2. Ella Reames/Maria Zweig (CofC) def. Olivia Szyszkiewicz/Sydney Eckhardt (JU) 21-17, 21-13
3. Emma Falk/Kora Hansen (CofC) def. Anna Dunbar/Julia Gunner (JU) 21-13, 20-22, 15-11
4. Tynley Smeltzer/Sofie Vogel (CofC) def. Macie Simpson/Cameron Knifton (JU) 21-15,-21-19
5. Haley Hart/Katie Martinez (JU) def. Alexa Psotka/Mikaela Dougherty (CofC) 21-18, 21-18

Notes

• Charleston improved to 2-1 against UNCW on the season having won back-to-back matches over the Seahawks.
• The Cougars pushed their win streak to five with Saturday's twinbill sweep, matching a season-best streak from March 4 to March 12.
• Ella Reames and Maria Zweig posted 2-0 days at court two while Emma Falk and Kora Hansen followed suit with a 2-0 day at four.

 
Up Next
Charleston looks to close the UNCW Invitational strong Sunday and push the win streak to a new season-high. First match is set for 9 a.m. against Jacksonville with a finale of 12:30 p.m. against UNCW slated.