BOCA RATON, FLA. – South Carolina beach volleyball carries a five-game win streak into an important weekend on the road, heading down to Boca Raton for Florida Atlantic’s Beach Burrow Bash tournament. Running Saturday to Sunday, the tournament pits the Gamecocks (15-9) against No. 14 FIU, No. 16 Stetson, the eighth-ranked host Owls and Florida Gulf Coast.
For continued updates on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.
PALMETTO INVITATIONAL NOTABLES
- Junior Kristen Schenck made her first career start in the evening dual with UT Martin. Out of a roster of 19 women, she is the sixth Gamecock to earn their first career start this season.
- Senior Peyton Yamagata played with her sixth different partner of the season in the UNCW dual, pairing with Sophie Bengoechea. Yamagata has at least one start in all five positions in the lineup.
- VB Trost and Morgan Downs are the 11th different pairing to represent the Gamecocks on court four this season. Despite the shifting lineups, the team holds an overall record of 14-8 in the fours.
- The two Saturday wins move the team to 9-1 at home so far this spring. Only the 2016 (14) and 2018 (11) teams have more wins on Wheeler Beach in a single season.
- A day after making her first collegiate start, junior Kristen Schenck collected her first win Sunday morning against Morehead State. She is the eighth Gamecock to earn their first win with South Carolina this spring.
- Kennedy Westendorff made her first start of the spring in the morning dual with Morehead State. The junior has worked through lingering issues this season, after making 24 starts in 2023. With her addition to the lineup, 17 of the 19 women on the roster have made at least one start so far this season.
- The team’s 11 home wins in 2024 tie it with the 2018 team for second-most in a single season in program history. Only the 2016 squad has more wins on Wheeler Beach in a single season, with 14.
- With a morning sweep of Morehead State, graduate student Skylar Allen won her 80th career match. She is just the fourth Gamecock in program history to reach that total and first since 2021 (Katie Smith and Carly Schnieder).
SCOUTING THE WEEKEND FIELD
FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS
- The Gamecocks lead the all-time series, 8-3 (since 2014)
- FAU snapped a six-game losing streak with wins over North Florida and North Alabama to close out its weekend at Florida State’s Unconquered Invitational tourament (April 5-6). The Owls are ranked 18th in the latest AVCA…