No. 2 USC Beach Volleyball Knocks Off No. 4 Florida State to Open Sun-N-Sand Invitational

DeLAND, Fla. – The No. 2-ranked USC beach volleyball team (5-1) took down fourth-ranked Florida State (7-2) by a 3-1 count to open play at the Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational on Cooper Beach sand on Saturday, March 12. 
 
The Women of Troy racked up their fourth straight victory and improved to 15-5 all-time against the Seminoles in the teams' 20th meeting. The Trojans also go to 18-4 in matches played in the Eastern Time Zone and to 11-1 in the Sunshine State.
 
Following an hour-long delay due to rain and thunder in the area, the Trojans got on court in a play-to-decision dual against the Seminoles. USC scored the first point from the No. 1 position when Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward dispatched of Maddie Anderson and Brook Bauer, 21-12, 21-13. USC went up, 2-0, when Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles got a 21-16, 21-14 victory over Alaina Chacon and Madison Fitzpatrick at the No. 3 position. The Maple-Scoles pairing has now produced six straight wins.
 
The Seminoles scored their dual point with a three-set win at the No. 5 position. There, Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando won their first set against Kate Privett and Raelyn White, 21-19, but the FSU duo came back to win the back two, 21-19, 15-8. 
 
USC delivered the knockout blow from court two where Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater won their sixth straight match on a 21-16, 21-17 victory over Morgan Chacon and Liz Waters-Leiga. 
 
With inclement weather a remaining possibility, the match at court four and the exhibition match were each suspended. USC returns to action at approximately 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) in a match-up with No. 12 Florida Atlantic (7-2).
 
For more information on the USC beach volleyball team, a complete schedule, and results, please visit USCTrojans.com/beach. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @USCBeach.
 
No. 2 USC def. No. 4 Florida State, 3-1
Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational
Cooper Beach Courts · DeLand, Fla.
Saturday, March 12, 2022
RECORDS: USC (5-1), Florida State (7-2)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Hailey HARWARD (USC) def. Maddie ANDERSON/Brook BAUER (FSU); 21-12, 21-13
2. Megan KRAFT/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Morgan CHACON/Liz WATERS-LEIGA (FSU); 21-16, 21-17
3. Delaynie MAPLE/Julia SCOLES (USC) def. Alaina CHACON/Madison FITZPATRICK (FSU); 21-16, 21-14
4. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) vs. Caitlin MOON/Jordan POLO (FSU); 20-22, 12-9 DNF
5. Kate PRIVETT/Raelyn WHITE (FSU) def. Mollie EBERTIN/Sunny VILLAPANDO (USC); 19-21, 21-19, 15-8
Exh. Caroline SCHAFER/Shannon SCULLY (USC) vs. Alex HILTON/Jenna JOHNSON (FSU); 16-17 DNF
Order of finish: 1, 3, 5, 2*