Championship Run Ends With Loss To Georgia State

FOLEY, Ala. – UNCW’s run in the Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship came to an end on Saturday with the Seahawks falling to nationally-ranked Georgia State, 3-1, in the finals at the Foley Beach Volleyball Complex.

The 18th-ranked Panthers (22-16) earned the league’s automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Championships in May. The Seahawks fell to 22-9 with the loss coming in the program’s first championship dual appearance.

UNCW’s pairing of Gracie Sistrunk and Lyvia Trimp posted UNCW’s lone win to run their record to 30-1.

The Seahawks advanced to the finals for the first time in program history with a come-from-behind, 3-2, win over top-seeded Coastal Carolina. Trailing 2-1, Gabby LaPata and Sarah Thompson leveled the dual at 2-all with a 15-13 win in the third set at the top pairing.

Traci Schrock and Annika Thompson delivered a win at the third pairing to end the Seahawks to their first conference finals appearance. The pair dropped the first set to Coastal, but answered with a 21-19 win in the second and also rallied from a late deficit to win 16-14 in the third set.