COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina beach volleyball returns to Wheeler Beach in almost a month, hosting the Palmetto Invitational April 6-7. The two-day tournament features duals against UNCW (14-7) and UT Martin (9-9) on Saturday and Morehead State (6-6) and Mercer (15-11) on Sunday. The Gamecocks (11-9) play at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday.
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 refer to the athletics village parking guide site (updated weekly) for the most up-to-date information heading into Saturday.
SCOUTING THE WEEKEND FIELD
UNCW SEAHAWKS
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 13-0 (Since 2016). The Gamecocks won the last meeting, 4-1, at home (March 11, 2023).
- The Seahawks have scored a point in four of the last five duals with South Carolina, but have only reached a 3-2 margin one time in the previous 13 meetings.
UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 1-0. The Gamecocks won the lone meeting in the series, 5-0, on a neutral court (April 8, 2023).
- The Skyhawks are the back-to-back defending champions of the Ohio Valley Conference and currently hold a one-game lead in the league standings.
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 1-0. The Gamecocks won the lone meeting, 5-0 (March 19, 2019).
- The Eagles are one of four teams from the Ohio Valley Conference that play Carolina this spring. The Gamecocks already defeated Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech, and will also face UT Martin this weekend.
MERCER BEARS
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 9-1 (Since 2014). The Gamecocks won the last meeting, 5-0, on a neutral court (March 19, 2023).
- Mercer’s lone win in the series came in the very first meeting, back on March 11, 2014.
VETERAN DUO CHASE RECORDS IN FINAL SPRING
South Carolina’s record book may look a little different in May, if Skylar Allen and Hannah Mackenhausen have anything to say about it. The two standouts are nearing a handful of career records as they kick off their final seasons in Columbia. Allen, who already is a two-time all-american, is coming off a 2023 season where she and partner Simone Priebe became the first…