Fifth-ranked LSU beach volleyball scores resounding wins in Gamecock Grand Slam

Columbia, S.C. – The No. 5 LSU Beach Volleyball team won both its matches on Friday at the Gamecock Grand Slam.

The day started for LSU with a 5-0 sweep over Mercer and followed that with a 4-1 win over No. 19 South Carolina.

“Good day today. The weather was not enjoyable, but the play was as good as we can hope it could be at this point in the season,” LSU volleyball coach Russell Brock said. “The first match was smooth across the board, and everyone played great. In the second match, we knew South Carolina was going to battle us. To be able to fend them off and put ourselves in a position to win and finish well was a great job.”

LSU with start Saturday by playing No. 15 Pepperdine at 8 a.m. and then play Louisiana-Monroe at 12 p.m.

“Starting off with Pepperdine tomorrow and we know the weather is going to be bad,” said Brock. “We have to come out ready to play a really good game. ULM is an in-state rival that is going to play us tough as well. It’s a big day tomorrow and we are looking forward to the competition.”

The Tigers started with a 5-0 sweep over Mercer. Courts 4 and 5 both had dominant victories to set the tone for the match with the pair of Grace Seits and Kelli Greene-Agnew on Court 4 won 21-2 and 21-8. On Court 5, Allison Coens and Lara Boos also won 21-8 and 21-10.

The Court 1 pair of Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope and Bella Bauman won both sets by a score of 21-15. On Court 2, Parker Bracken and Kylie Deberg continued their perfect season, winning in straight sets, 21-10 and 21-17. The Court 3 pair of Holly Carlton and Reilly Allred completed the sweep for the Tigers, winning 21-14 and 21-13.

The second match of the day featured the LSU-South Carolina match.

The Tigers were able to come away with the victory, 4-1. Courts 4 and 5 once again played well, giving LSU an early lead. Seits and Greene-Agnew won on Court 4, 21-16 and 21-17. On Court 5, Sierra Caffo and Ellie Shank dropped the first set, 21-19, but bounced back and won the next two, 21-15 and 15-11.

The Court 1 pair of Rasnick-Pope and Bauman were unable to come away with the victory, losing 21-16 and 21-17. The pair of Bracken and Deberg on Court 2 clinched the victory for the Tigers in the match, winning 21-17 and 21-19. After a thrilling first set in which they won 33-31, the Court 3 pair of Carlton and Allred won the second set, 21-14, as LSU walked away with a top-20 victory.

No. 5 LSU 5, Mercer 0

1. Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope/Bella Bauman (LSU) def. Lexi Polychones/Olivia Boeve (MU) 21-15, 21-15
2. Kylie Deberg/Parker Bracken (LSU) def. Sydney Benson/Nicole O’Mara (MU) 21-10, 21-17
3. Holly Carlton/Reilly Allred (LSU) def. Jordan Paddock/Reese Hood (MU) 21-14, 21-13
4. Kelli Greene-Agnew/Grace Seits (LSU) def. Hana Robertson/Kathryn Corbett (MU) 21-2, 21-8
5. Allison Coens/Lara Boos (LSU) def. Emily Earwood/Jordan Morris (MU) 21-8, 21-10

Ext. Melia Lindner/Elizabeth Chambers (LSU) def. Gracen Bohling/Elena Sanfrey (MU) 21-8, 21-10

No. 5 LSU 4, No. 19 South Carolina 1

1. Skylar Allen/Whitley Ballard (SC) def. Ashlyn Rasnick-Pope/Bella Bauman (LSU) 21-16, 21-17
2. Kylie Deberg/Parker Bracken (LSU) def. Jordan Smith/Lauren Wilcock (SC) 21-17, 21-18
3. Holly Carlton/Reilly Allred (LSU) def. Abby Carroll/Jillian Gleason (SC) 33-31, 21-14
4. Kelli Greene-Agnew/Grace Seits (LSU) def. Sophie Manson/Peyton Gray (SC) 21-16, 21-17
5. Ellie Shank/Sierra Caffo (LSU) def. Hannah Mackenhausen/Kaeli Crews (SC) 19-21, 21-15, 15-11

Ext. Lara Boos/Allison Coens (LSU) def. Nicole Deobler/Courtney Weber (SC) 22-20, 21-13