COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina beach volleyball returns home for its second tournament of the spring down on Wheeler Beach, hosting the Gamecock Grand Slam Saturday and Sunday. The team faces Houston Christian and Arizona State at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, on March 25 and Tampa and No. 11 Georgia State at 10 and 4 on Sunday. South Carolina enters the weekend with an 11-7 overall record and moved up to No. 16 in the weekly coaches poll after taking down No. 5 Loyola Marymount last weekend in Gulf Shores, Ala.
It will be a special weekend for the program as a whole, as over 30 former players and their families return to Columbia to celebrate the 10th season of the program and reunite for the first Alumnae Weekend.
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
Houston Christian
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 3-0 ( Since 2019). In the last meeting, the Gamecocks won, 4-1 (March 21, 2021).
- This is the first meeting between the two teams that won’t be at a neutral location.
- Houston Christian, formerly Houston Baptist, finished the 2022 season with a 14-22 overall record and return both members of its two winningest pairs from last spring.
Arizona State
- South Carolina leads the all-time series, 2-1 ( Since 2015). In the last meeting, the Gamecocks won, 3-2 (March 31, 2019).
- The Sun Devils are one of three PAC-12 schools on the schedule this spring. The Gamecocks have a combined record of 5-7 against PAC-12 schools in program history.
- Arizona State finished with a 17-15 record in 2022, the second-most wins in a season in program history, and return four of its top five individuals based on wins from last spring.
Tampa
- South Carolina won the first and only previous meeting between the two sides, winning 5-0 on Feb. 23, 2019.
- The Spartans faced 11 nationally ranked opponents in 2022 and return three individuals who won 15 or more matches last spring.
- Tampa finished 17-15 in 2022 and placed third in the AVCA Small College Championship.
#11 Georgia State
- Georgia State leads…