No. 2 USC Beach Volleyball Takes Down Tampa

DeLAND, Fla. – The No. 2-ranked USC beach volleyball team (7-1) swept Tampa (6-5) by a 5-0 count in its third match at the Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational at Cooper Beach on Sunday, March 13. The victory is the Trojans' sixth straight dual win.
 
In the first-ever meeting between USC and Tampa, the Trojans got started with a win from court five where Mollie Ebertin and Sunny Villapando took down Claire Overton and Valerie Rosequist, 21-10, 21-12.
 
The 2-0 lead quickly went up when the sister pair of Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse defeated Katie McKiel and Sara Szalay, 21-13, 21-19, for their 39th win as a pair, which ties them for 10th most among all-time USC duos with the duo of Eve Ettinger and Bria Russ.
 
The clinching point was won when Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater delivered a 21-19, 21-11 win at the No. 2 position over Kiersten Anderson and Payton Brunick. It was the Trojan pair's seventh straight win. 
 
USC went on top, 4-0, with a victory at the No. 3 position where Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles improved to 8-0 on the season with a 21-17, 21-17 victory over Madison Brunick and Melissa Elias. The sweep was secured on a 21-19, 21-13 win from the top court where Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward took down Julia Oswald and Rachel Rosequist for their sixth straight victory as a pair.
 
In a non-scoring exhibition match, Emily Hansen saw her first action as a Trojan paired with Shannon Scully as the USC tandem defeated Cassidy Ehrie and Selina Pfuner in straight sets, 21-18, 21-14.
 
The Trojans conclude the Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational against 18th-ranked host Stetson (5-6) at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). The Trojans and the Hatters will be shown live on ESPN+.
 
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. Tampa, 5-0
Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational
Cooper Beach Courts · DeLand, Fla.
Sunday, March 13, 2022
RECORDS: USC (7-1), Tampa (6-5)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Hailey HARWARD (USC) def. Julia OSWALD/Rachel ROSEQUIST (TAM); 21-19, 21-13
2. Megan KRAFT/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Kiersten ANDERSON/Payton BRUNICK (TAM); 21-19, 21-11
3. Delaynie MAPLE/Julia SCOLES (USC) def. Madison BRUNICK/Melissa ELIAS (TAM); 21-17, 21-17
4. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Katie McKIEL/Sara SZALAY (TAM); 21-13, 21-19
5. Mollie EBERTIN/Sunny VILLAPANDO (USC) def. Claire OVERTON/Valerie ROSEQUIST (TAM); 21-10, 21-12
Exh. Emily HANSEN/Shannon SCULLY (USC) def. Cassidy EHRIE/Selina PFUNER (TAM); 21-18, 21-14
Order of finish: 5, 4, 2*, 3, 1