Sports

New dry slope facility in Cardrona Valley for NZ's elite snow athletes

Share with your crew New Zealand’s FIS World Cup freestyle athletes are already making a huge mark on the world circuit (hello 3 x World Champions in St Moritz last month). The Kiwis punch well above their population weight with Olympic, FIS World Cup and X Games medals. Now with a new world-class dry slope […]

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2 weeks ago

April 14, 2025

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New dry slope facility in Cardrona Valley for NZ's elite snow athletes

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New Zealand’s FIS World Cup freestyle athletes are already making a huge mark on the world circuit (hello 3 x World Champions in St Moritz last month).

The Kiwis punch well above their population weight with Olympic, FIS World Cup and X Games medals. Now with a new world-class dry slope facility opening in June this year, they’re about to get even better.

Located in the Cardrona Valley near the Cardrona Alpine Resort access road, the location will allow athletes to take their skills perfected on the air bags directly to snow for maximum progression during the NZ winter.

The earthworks and foundations are complete in the Cardrona Valley on the South Island near Wanaka and the dry slope material is now being attached to the run in. Testing is expected at the end of May, with the plan to open the facility in June 2025.

It’s a win, win for local and international athletes alike with Cardrona Alpine Resort the home to the southern hemisphere’s only full size Olympic super pipe.

“The Snow Sports NZ Dry Slope Facility has been a labour of love from so many passionate people and organisations who have believed in our vision and our athletes,” says Snow Sports NZ CEO Nic Cavanagh.

“There are important wellbeing and progression advantages that the Dry Slope Facility will provide and enable our world-class athletes to remain at the top of their sport as we head towards Milano Cortina 2026 and beyond.”

The Dry Slope Facility setup is designed to provide training opportunity for slopestyle, big air and halfpipe athletes and in the summer months it will extend the New Zealand training window to allow athletes to spend more time in their home environment. This is particularly beneficial to development athletes, many of whom are still high school aged and cannot afford to spend extended periods overseas.

Snow Sports NZ estimate 160 training sessions per year on the landing air bag, an increase on the current 20 sessions per year when the air bag is above the snow line.

The Dry Slope Facility will be used in addition to the in-ground covered Super Tramp and High Performance Sport NZ gym, ensuring that athletes get high quality off-snow training opportunities.

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Sports

Tiger Beat – Azusa Pacific University Athletics

Next Match: vs. Cal Baptist 4/26/2025 | 12:00PM Apr. 26 (Sat) / 12:00PM vs. Cal Baptist History LOS ANGELES, Calif. – In the penultimate game of the season, the Cougars ran into a familiar foe, falling to the Pacific Tigers 16-9 in the quarterfinals of the Golden Coast Conference […]

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21 minutes ago

April 26, 2025

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – In the penultimate game of the season, the Cougars ran into a familiar foe, falling to the Pacific Tigers 16-9 in the quarterfinals of the Golden Coast Conference tournament at Loyola Marymount University. Jaeden Johnson paced the Cougar offense with three goals in the contest.

How It Happened: Pacific led wire-to-wire, scoring on a power play just 20 seconds into the game and taking a commanding 6-3 lead after the first quarter. Laia Marsinach Ortega briefly drew the Cougars back within a goal at 2-1 with a power play strike of her own, but the Tigers would score the next two goals and then pour on two more late in the period to assume a three-goal advantage.

Pacific put the game away in the second quarter by continuing to clamp down on defense while finding the occasional scoring opportunity of their own. Going back to the final two minutes of the first quarter, the Tigers scored six unanswered goals to run their lead to 10-3 before the Cougars finally were able to make another dent in the scoreboard. Kaelene De Bie scored the Cougars first goal of the period before back-to-back strikes from Johnson in the dying seconds of the half cut the deficit to 10-6, giving the sixth-seeded Cougars a bit of momentum going into the third.

That momentum did not amount to much of anything, however, as the Tigers pitched a shutout in the third quarter, stretching their advantage to 13-6 by period’s end. Pacific would tack on the first two goals of the fourth quarter as well to take their largest lead of the game with just over five minutes to play, and all the Cougars could do was score a couple of late goals to narrow the scoreline.

In total, the Cougars were led by Johnson’s three goals and two assists on the day, while Alexandra Akritidou scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter. Maritza Ochoa had four steals at the defensive end, while Daniela Herrero Miralles made five saves in net.

Up Next: With today’s result, Azusa Pacific (16-15) will play their final game of the season on Saturday, when they face off against California Baptist in the fifth-place game at 12:00 noon.

Sports

Beach Volleyball Falls in Semifinals of CUSA Beach Volleyball Championships

Story Links YOUNGSVILLE, LA – Beach Volleyball falls to two-seed Tulane in the semifinals of the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships, 3-0. The Panthers fought to the very end, but ultimately straight set losses on courts one, two and five spelled FIU’s final match of the 2025 Beach Volleyball campaign. Despite the […]

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1 hour ago

April 26, 2025

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YOUNGSVILLE, LA – Beach Volleyball falls to two-seed Tulane in the semifinals of the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships, 3-0.

The Panthers fought to the very end, but ultimately straight set losses on courts one, two and five spelled FIU’s final match of the 2025 Beach Volleyball campaign. Despite the loss, the Panthers extended their time in the CUSA postseason tournament longer than last season, making it to the semifinals for the first time since the 2023 CUSA tournament.

Freshman Brianna Luoma and sophomore Katarina Drozd end the season as FIU’s most successful pair, winning 22 games as a duo between the regular season and postseason.

(2) Tulane 3, (3) FIU 0

P1: Emily Heintzelman/Kenzie Cutler (TUL) def. Ella Gray/Julia Panko (FIU) 21-16, 21-13

P2: Skylar Ensign/Molly Trodd (TUL) def. Sophia Vogel/Nicole Robinson (FIU) 21-14, 21-18

P3: Sam Green/Sara Hall (TUL) 21-19, Katarina Drozd/Brianna Luoma (FIU) unf

P4: Sam O’Connor/Gigi Gallegos (TUL) 21-19, Zoe Cahill/Arianna Franklin (FIU) unf

P5: Amelia Mullen/Avery Burks (TUL) def. Aleksandra Chudzik/Kendra Brown (FIU) 21-16, 21-19

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 5

SOCIAL MEDIA

Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUbeach on Instagram, or @FIUBeachVB on Twitter, and @FIUBeach on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.

Sports

Top Four Seeds Earn Berth to Semifinal Round of 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship

Story Links No. 1 seed Hawai’i 16, No. 8 seed Cal State Fullerton 6 Box Score | UH Presser | CSF Presser | Interactive Bracket Top-seeded Hawai’i defeated No. 8 Cal State Fullerton 16-6 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo […]

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1 hour ago

April 26, 2025

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No. 1 seed Hawai’i 16, No. 8 seed Cal State Fullerton 6

Box Score | UH Presser | CSF Presser | Interactive Bracket

Top-seeded Hawai’i defeated No. 8 Cal State Fullerton 16-6 at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship.

The Rainbow Wahine surged in the third quarter, scoring six goals, and maintained their lead throughout the game. The Titans managed to score only two goals during the same period. UH capitalized on their offensive opportunities, taking 34 shots with a shooting accuracy that resulted in 16 goals. CSF scored 6 goals from 20 shots. Both teams had multiple exclusions, with the Rainbow Wahine receiving 10 and the Titans 12.

Hawai’i secured a decisive victory over Cal State Fullerton, beginning with a strong start by scoring four consecutive goals in the first period. Bernadette Doyle initiated the scoring at 5:25, followed by Ema Vernoux’s penalty shot at 4:49. The second period saw Vernoux extend the Rainbow Wahine’s lead to 5-0 with an even-strength goal at 1:48 before Tess Henke put the Titans on the board at 1:21. In the third period, the Rainbow Wahine’s offensive momentum continued with a streak of five goals, highlighted by Doyle and Jordan Wedderburn scoring in rapid succession, making it 9-2. Although the Titans managed to narrow the gap slightly with goals from Emme Doube-MacLeod and Hannah Wilson, the Rainbow Wahine responded with a flurry of goals in the fourth period, securing a 16-6 victory. The Rainbow Wahine showcased efficient shooting with 16 goals from 34 attempts, while the Titans converted six goals from 20 shots.

The Rainbow Wahine team featured several standout players in their recent competition. Wedderburn led the team with three goals and added one assist, making a significant impact in their match. Gabrielle Doyle also contributed strongly with two goals and a leading four assists, showcasing her versatility in playmaking and scoring. Vernoux was effective with two goals on five shots and demonstrated defensive strength with one block and two exclusions drawn. Silvanne Slot made her mark by scoring two goals on three shots, while Esmee Roijen was efficient, scoring two goals on two shots. These players played key roles in their team’s performance, combining scoring ability with defensive contributions.

Wilson emerged as a standout player for the Titans, leading the team with two goals and two assists in their recent match. She also contributed defensively with one steal. Destiny Hernandez added a goal to the team’s tally while also blocking one shot and drawing an exclusion. Taylor Mason matched Hernandez with a goal and drew an exclusion, reinforcing the team’s offensive efforts. In the goal, Alexandra Ortiz made a significant impact with six saves, keeping the team competitive throughout the match.

Gallery: (4-25-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 1 UH vs No. 8 CSF

No. 4 seed UC San Diego 15 No. 5 seed UC Davis 10

Box Score | UCSD Presser | Interactive Bracket

No. 4 UC San Diego overcame No. 5 UC Davis 15-10 in at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship.

The Tritons gained an early lead with a 4-1 first quarter and maintained their advantage throughout the game, scoring four goals in both the third and fourth quarters. The Aggies attempted a comeback with consistent scoring, including three goals in each of the last three quarters, but the Tritons’ defense held strong. Notably, the Tritons capitalized on power plays with three goals and added a penalty shot, while the Aggies scored four power play goals and three from penalties.

UC San Diego opened the scoring at 5:07 in the first period with a goal by Courtney Okumura, assisted by Lucia Doak. The Tritons continued to dominate the first period, with Sydney Munatones scoring an exclusion goal at 2:23, and Holly Roberts adding to the lead at 1:28, followed by an unassisted goal by Abby Moll with just three seconds remaining, making the score 4-1 at the end of the first period. UC Davis rallied in the second period with back-to-back goals by Sam Yoo and Gianna Nocetti, narrowing the gap to 4-3. However, the Tritons responded with a flurry of three goals, including a standout performance by Okumura, who added another exclusion goal at 5:26, pushing the score to 7-3. The third period saw a back-and-forth exchange, highlighted by Roberts and Caroline Christl each scoring for the Tritons, while Yoo kept the Aggies in contention with an exclusion goal at 2:13. The Tritons maintained their lead throughout the fourth period, with Munatones contributing multiple assists and Okumura securing her hat trick, leading to a final score of 15-10 in favor of the Tritons.

Courtney Okumura led the Tritons with a strong performance, scoring three goals and providing two assists, while also contributing three steals and two blocks. Holly Roberts and Caroline Christl each added two goals, with Christl also securing two steals and drawing one exclusion. Sydney Munatones was a key playmaker with four assists, adding one goal to her tally. Kendall Thomas also played a vital role with two assists and one goal, drawing three exclusions in the process.

Sam Yoo led the Aggies with three goals on six shots, underscoring her offensive contributions. Kelly Hungerford facilitated the attack with three assists, while also recording three steals and a block. Gianna Nocetti was a key player, scoring two goals and securing four sprint wins. On the defensive end, Lucy Holland made seven saves in goal, playing a crucial role in the team’s efforts.

Gallery: (4-25-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 4 UCSD vs No. 5 UCD

No. 2 seed Long Beach State 22, No. 7 seed CSUN 8

Box Score | LBSU Presser | Interactive Bracket

No. 4 Long Beach State downed No. 7 CSUN with a decisive 22-8 victory at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif during the Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship.

The Beach capitalized on offensive opportunities, scoring 22 goals from 39 shots, including eight power play goals and two penalty shots. The team’s second frame was particularly dominant, netting seven goals. The Matadors managed eight goals from 27 shots, with three power play goals and two penalty shots. Both teams faced multiple exclusions, with Long Beach State committing nine and CSUN committing 15.

The Beach secured a commanding victory over the Matadors with a final score of 22-8. The game began with CSUN taking an early lead as Kianna Melvin and Anna Pal scored consecutive goals at 5:53 and 5:10 in the first period. However, Long Beach State responded with a strong performance, highlighted by three goals in the final four minutes of the first period, ending the period with a 3-2 lead. In the second period, Long Beach State extended their lead further, with Cardona scoring her second goal at 6:12, contributing to a 10-4 advantage by halftime. The Matadors’ Anna Pal scored a total of three goals, including a penalty shot in the second period, but the Beach maintained control throughout, with Gaby Patenaude and Zelma Koka each scoring in the closing minutes. Long Beach State’s offensive dominance included eight power-play goals and two penalty shots, while the Matadors managed a total of three power-play goals.

Cardona led the Beach with a strong performance, scoring four goals on four shots and contributing three assists. She also won two sprints, showcasing her versatility in the pool. Elisa Portillo added three goals, making an impact with six shots, while also securing two steals. Patenaude matched Portillo’s goal tally with three goals on four attempts and drew four exclusions, helping to keep the opposition in check. Rita Gurri Capel was a key playmaker with three assists, adding a goal to her tally, and contributing defensively with a steal and a block. Goalkeeper Chelsea Oliver recorded seven saves, anchoring the defensive effort for the team.

Pal led the Matadors with a strong performance, recording three goals and three assists. Melvin was also a key contributor, scoring two goals on two shots and adding a steal. Lucie Lapuz added to the offensive efforts with one goal and one steal, while Helena Sandhagen scored once and contributed to the defense with a block and a sprint win. Goalkeeper Erika Staine was effective defensively with three saves and two steals.

Gallery: (4-25-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 2 LBSU vs No. 7 CSUN

No. 3 seed UC Irvine 12, No. 6 seed UC Santa Barbara 11

Box Score | UCI Presser | UCSB Presser | Interactive Bracket

UC Irvine pushed past UC Santa Barbara 12-11 in a non-conference match at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif Quarterfinal Round of the 2025 Big West Women’s Water Polo Championship.

The match was closely contested, with the Anteaters pulling ahead in the final period by scoring five goals. The Gauchos scored consistently throughout the game, but the Anteaters’ fourth-frame surge secured the victory. Notably, the Anteaters capitalized on three powerplay opportunities and added a penalty shot goal to their tally.

The Gauchos started strong with two consecutive goals in the first period, with Christina Mullane scoring at 7:26 and Juju Amaral following at 6:09. The Anteaters responded with two goals of their own, as Gracie Helberg scored at 5:36 and Nioka Thomas equalized at 1:37. The second period saw an exchange of goals as Bella Mady scored for UC Santa Barbara at 7:06, but the Anteaters’ Brooke Hourigan quickly matched it at 6:25. The third period was tightly contested, with both teams trading goals, including a quick response from the Anteaters’ Kennedy East after UCSB’s Mullane scored at 6:44. In the final period, the Anteaters took control by scoring four consecutive goals between 6:37 and 4:35, highlighted by two goals from Lauren Hett. The Gauchos attempted a comeback with Mullane and Isabel Valaika scoring, but ultimately the Anteaters secured a narrow victory with a final score of 12-11.

The Anteaters feature several standout players based on their recent performance. Hett led the team with two goals and contributed significantly on defense with three steals. Helberg matched Hett’s scoring with two goals and added an assist. Hourigan was efficient with a perfect shooting record, scoring two goals on two attempts and also providing an assist. East was a key contributor, recording two goals and leading the team with four sprint wins. In goal, Rachel Kirchner made a notable impact with 13 saves, anchoring the team’s defense. These players were vital contributors for the Anteaters in their recent match.

The Gauchos feature several standout players. Amaral made a significant impact with two goals and five assists in their game. Mullane was a key offensive contributor, leading the team with three goals and securing three drawn exclusions. On the defensive end, Ava Donleavy delivered a strong performance in the goal, recording 14 saves. Additionally, Annie Kuester added to the team’s scoring with two goals and provided a defensive presence with one block. These athletes played pivotal roles in their respective areas during the match.

Gallery: (4-25-2025) 2025 BW Champs: No. 3 UCI vs No. 6 UCSB

Sports

Cincinnati Reds Minor League Game Review

Hector Rodriguez extended his hitting streak, Sal Stewart had three steals and two hits, and T.J. Sikkema had a strong relief showing in the Lookouts win. Carlos Jorge had a 4-hit day and John Michael Faile extended his hitting streak in Dayton. Alfredo Duno homered in Daytona’s loss. If you are interested in getting emailed […]

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2 hours ago

April 26, 2025

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Cincinnati Reds Minor League Game Review

If you are interested in getting emailed every day during the season with additional game notes for every game and a rundown on how the Cincinnati Reds Top 25 Prospects performed (along with other perks) you can sign up to support the site through Patreon and get all of that for a few bucks a month. If that’s something that sounds interesting you can get more information here.

The Louisville Bats were postponed.

Louisville was postponed on Thursday and had a doubleheader scheduled for Friday. That was postponed by rain, too. Now they have a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, but also will now make up one of the games from this series when they go visit Iowa later in the 1st half of the season. The Bats will play as the home team in one of the games during that series.

The Chattanooga Lookouts won 6-1. Box Score

Game Notes

Jose Franco only threw 2.0 innings in his start. It was not clear that there was an injury but he didn’t return to the mound for the 3rd innings despite having thrown just 36 pitches in the game. He did lower his ERA to 0.73 on the season with his outing.

Hector Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to nine games. He’s hitting .322/.394/.373 through 16 games.

Sal Stewart picked up two hits to raise his line to .313/.405/.516 on the season. But he also stole three bases, giving him nine on the year. He had 10 last season with Dayton in 80 games. This was the first time he’s stolen three bases in a game. It’s only the third time he’s ever stolen more than one base in a game. The other two times were in late May and mid-June back in 2023 when he stole two bases – both times against Jupiter.

T.J. Sikkema was strong in relief, throwing 78 pitches and getting eight ground outs.

The Dayton Dragons lost 10-2. Box Score

The Daytona Tortugas lost 11-2. Box Score

4/26 Game Preview

Team	Record	Time (ET)	Probable	Box Score	Listen	Watch
Louisville	13-10	5:05pm	Wilkerson/Wynne	Here	Here	Here
Chattanooga	7-10	5:15pm	Burns/Cardona	Here	Here	Here
Dayton	7-12	1:05pm	Serwinowski	Here	Here	Here
Daytona	9-10	6:10pm	Portes	Here	Here	Here

Sports

Beach Volleyball’s OVC Championship Run Ends In The Semifinals

Story Links CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Lindenwood beach volleyball (15-14, 4-6 OVC) fought til the very end the Ohio Valley Conference Championship semifinal match against UT Martin (24-9, 7-3 OVC) but fell by a final score 3-2. The match came down to the final set in the three pairs as the Lions’ third […]

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2 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Lindenwood beach volleyball (15-14, 4-6 OVC) fought til the very end the Ohio Valley Conference Championship semifinal match against UT Martin (24-9, 7-3 OVC) but fell by a final score 3-2. The match came down to the final set in the three pairs as the Lions’ third Division I season comes to a close.

The Skyhawks picked up the first point in the match ending the historic run by the Lindenwood fours duo of Gabby Belcher and Aubrey Sheppard. After losing the first set 14-21, the Lions responded in the second winning 21-17. Coming down to the third set, Belcher and Sheppard lost their first match of the tournament by a score of 12-15.

Myah Hough and Sienna King were able to tie the match at 1-1 after defeating Kylie Surratt and Kristin Phillips in the fives. The duo went the distance in three sets winning by scores of 19-21, 21-15 and 15-9. Both teams split in the fours and fives resulting in a best two out of three scenario.

Lindenwood’s twos pair of Nyah Wilson and Katie Bockhorst gave the Lions’ a chance picking up the second point of the match in a convincing two set victory over Olivia O’Keefe and Kayla Bryant. The twos pair took care of business by scores of 21-18 and 21-14 putting the Lions on top 2-1.

The final two matches went the distance in three sets as the Skyhawks evened up the series winning in the ones. Abby Jacobs and Annalie McWhorter fell in the top pair by scores of 16-21, 21-16 and 8-15.

For the second straight day, the Lions ended the match in the threes with Abby VanBuskirk and Taylor Gentemann. After dropping the first set against UT Martin by a score of 15-21, they responded in the second winning 21-17. Coming down the stretch, Lindenwood trailed in a match point situation twice but responded to take the lead at 15-14. A missed serve by the Lions opened the door for the Skyhawks who ended the match on a 3-0 run to take the set and the match. UT Martin will now battle Chattanooga for the Championship match.

Lindenwood ended the season with 15 wins marking the second consecutive season that they have reached that win total. This also marked the second straight season the Lions have made it to the OVC semifinals. For more information on Lindenwood beach volleyball go to lindenwoodlions.com.

Sports

Beach Volleyball Falls to UNCW in Semifinals, Season Ends in Sun Belt Tournament

Story Links Foley, Ala. – The Coastal Carolina beach volleyball team ended their run in the Sun Belt tournament with a 3-2 loss to No. 3 UNCW in the semifinals on Saturday in Foley, Ala. The Chants finished the season with a 21-14 overall record and appeared in the Sun Belt tournament semifinals […]

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2 hours ago

April 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Foley, Ala. – The Coastal Carolina beach volleyball team ended their run in the Sun Belt tournament with a 3-2 loss to No. 3 UNCW in the semifinals on Saturday in Foley, Ala. The Chants finished the season with a 21-14 overall record and appeared in the Sun Belt tournament semifinals for the third consecutive year.

With the win, UNCW will face Georgia State in the championship.

No. 3 UNCW 3, No. 1 Coastal 2

1. Gabby LaPata/Sarah Thompson (UNCW) def. Emma Kunaus / Frida Meincke Lyø (CCU), 21-18, 19-21, 15-13

2. Gracie Sistrunk/Lyvia Trimp (UNCW) def. Anna Rita / Madeline Sigmon (CCU), 21-16, 21-19

3. Traci Schrock/Annika Thompson (UNCW) def. Kristýna Koblížková / Maya McNabney (CCU), 20-22, 21-19, 16-14

4. Raychel Ehlers / Ava Novello (CCU) def. Tamsie Black/Sophie Puhala (UNCW), 21-12, 23-21

5. Karis Gordon / Celia Ryan (CCU) def. Maddy Folks/Hannah Forbes (UNCW), 21-16, 21-19

Order of finish: Doubles (5,2,4,1,3)

For complete coverage of women’s beach volleyball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalBeachVB (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @CCUBeachVB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com