COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina beach volleyball finishes off its regular season with a home Palmetto Invitational tournament, running on Wheeler Beach this Friday and Saturday. The two-day even brings in Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Florida Gulf Coast and Jacksonville.
The tournament runs alongside the athletics department’s “Big Gamecock Weekend” around campus. The team’s duals at 11 a.m. against FGCU and 5 p.m. against Coastal Carolina on Friday kick off the weekend, centered around football’s spring scrimmage on Saturday night.
This spring, attendance at home matches at Wheeler Beach is again free and open to the general public. Please continue to follow the athletics department’s clear bag policy. Fan entrance is only permitted on the north side of the facility through the main gate and only participating teams and game-day personnel are permitted on the sand surface. Please note that due to other home events on campus, fans are encouraged to park in the garage at 1300 Heyward St., pictured below.
SCOUTING THE WEEKEND FIELD
FGCU
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 4-2 ( Since 2016). In the last meeting, the Eagles won, 3-2 (April 15, 2022).
- FGCU returned both members from its top three pairs from last season, where it set a program record with 29 wins. The Eagles finished the 2022 season ranked 20th nationally.
- So far this season, the Eagles have tackled a challenging schedule and have key wins over FIU, FAU and North Florida.
COASTAL CAROLINA
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 11-0 ( Since 2016). In the last meeting, the Gamecocks won, 4-1 (April 16, 2022).
- The Chanticleers return three of their four individual wins leaders, each went for 20 or more. Coastal Carolina finished the 2022 season with an 18-16 overall record.
- This season has been a historic one for the Chants, starting with their opening weekend where they won their first two duals ever over ranked opponents and earned their first-ever national ranking. Currently, CCU is 20-9 overall and receiving votes in the AVCA’s coaches top-20 poll.
JACKSONVILLE
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 6-2 ( Since 2014). In the last meeting, the Gamecocks won, 5-0 (April 1, 2022).
- The Dolphins were the first opponent the Gamecocks ever defeated, as South Carolina opened the all-time series with a 3-2 win on March 8, 2014.
- Jacksonville finished the 2022 season with an 10-27 overall record and enter the tournament on a four-game win…