No. 1 USC Beach Volleyball Stacks Up 5-0 Sweep of No. 4 Seminoles

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – No. 1-ranked USC beach volleyball (26-1) posted a 5-0 sweep over No. 4 Florida State (25-7) to go to 3-0 in three matches in the Center of Effort Challenge at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 16. The Women of Troy run the program's third longest win streak to 25 straight duals with the win.
 
While USC has shut Florida State out previously (3-0 at the 2016 NCAA championship), this win marks the first 5-0 sweep for either school in the all-time series. It is USC's 17th 5-0 sweep of the season (18th shutout victory) as the Trojans improve to 16-5 all-time against the Seminoles. The Trojans also improved to 123-14 all-time when they hold the No. 1 ranking.
 
USC put the win into the books in a flash as pairs at the Nos. 2, 3, and 4 positions all finished moments after each other. The Trojans' two pair finished first. Megan Kraft and Sammy Slater maintained their unblemished record and produced their 19th straight win with a 21-15, 21-14 victory over Alaina Chacon and Madison Fitzpatrick. 
 
At the No. 3 spot, Delaynie Maple and Julia Scoles racked up their 27th straight win to take sole possession of the program's third-longest win streak by a pair. They too are still undefeated at 27-0 following a 21-13, 21-17 win over Anna Long and Keara Rutz.
 
Twin sisters Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse threw the knockout punch with their 21-14, 21-15 win over Morgan Chacon and Jordan Polo at the No. 4 position. The Nourses improved to 18-4 this season and are now 54-10 all-time. 
 
USC added a fourth point from the top court where Tina Graudina and Hailey Harward got the 21-17, 21-18 win over Maddie Anderson and Brook Bauer to run their win streak to 22 straight matches and improved to 23-1.
 
In the only match to go three sets, Mollie Ebertin and Shannon Scully came back after dropping their first set to Caitlin Moon and Raelyn White to get a 9-21, 21-18, 15-11 win to seal the 5-0 sweep.
 
The Trojans wrap up play at the Center of Effort Challenge against No. 3 UCLA (27-3) at approximately 5:50 p.m. PT at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex.
 
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. 1 USC def. No. 4 Florida State, 5-0
Center of Effort Challenge
Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex · San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Saturday, April 16, 2022
RECORDS: USC (26-1), Florida State (25-7)
1. Tina GRAUDINA/Hailey HARWARD (USC) def. Maddie ANDERSON/Brook BAUER (FSU); 21-17, 21-18
2. Megan KRAFT/Sammy SLATER (USC) def. Alaina CHACON/Madison FITZPATRICK (FSU); 21-15, 21-14
3. Delaynie MAPLE/Julia SCOLES (USC) def. Anna LONG/Keara RUTZ (FSU); 21-13, 21-17
4. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Morgan CHACON/Jordan POLO (FSU); 21-14, 21-15
5. Mollie EBERTIN/Shannon SCULLY (USC) def. Caitlin MOON/Raelyn WHITE (FSU); 9-21, 21-18, 15-11
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4*, 1, 5