Beach Volleyball 4/9/2023 8:09:00 AM

No. 11 Sandy Panthers Chart Back-to-Back Wins to Close 2023 Diggin' Duals

ATLANTA— The No. 11-ranked Georgia State beach volleyball team wrapped home competition for the spring with a pair of victories for the final day of 2023 Diggin' Duals action on Saturday. Following the team's Senior Day ceremony, seniors Kelly Dorn, Yasmin Kuck, Maddy Delmonte and Elise Saga all charted wins for the Sandy Panthers facing UAB as the team posted a 5-0 sweep over the Blazers and finished the tournament with a 2-0 mark for the second day of play.

The shutout victory over UAB saw wins by pairs at all five flights. Dorn and Saga teamed at the third flight for a three-set victory, while Delmonte paired with teammate Ayla Johnson for a straight-set win at the fourth flight.

Kuck teamed with Lila Bordis as the pair notched a 21-14, 21-18 victory in straight sets to account for the fifth and final point in the match. The win secured the team's sweep of the Blazers and closed tournament play for the Sandy Panthers in Atlanta.

Saturday morning saw GSU defeat No. 16 South Carolina for its first win on the day. The 4-1 victory over the Gamecocks served as the team's second win over USC for 2023 after finding victory against the foe two weekends prior in Columbia, S.C.

GSU opened the tournament in Atlanta shorthanded for its first day of competition, as the Sandy Panthers saw defeat in a pair of hard-fought 3-2 decisions facing No. 20 Stetson and UT Martin. The team had previously defeated the No. 20-ranked Hatters, 4-1, in the second weekend of 2023 dual match play.

Highlighting the weekend of competition was Delmonte and Johnson posting an unbeaten 4-0 record at the fourth and fifth flights for GSU. The duo notched straight-set victories for every outing, including ranked wins at the fourth flight over No. 16 South Carolina and No. 20 Stetson.

Sisters Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary finished the second day charting a 2-0 record with back-to-back wins in straight sets at the top court. Aliisa Vuorinen and Destiny White would also secure consecutive wins as a pair for the final day of competition, downing No. 16 South Carolina and UAB at the fifth flight.

The No. 11-ranked Sandy Panthers move to 15-13 on the season, and look to close regular-season play next weekend with a trip to Hawaii.

GSU goes wheels-up to Honolulu for the Hawaii Invitational on Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16, and gears up for doubleheader dual matches facing host No. 10 Hawaii and No. 18 Arizona. The matchups against the Rainbow Wahine and the Wildcats will mark the first time GSU has traveled for competition in the state of Hawaii.

Dual matches will be contested at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex on the campus of The University of Hawaii. More information on the Sandy Panthers' tournament weekend in Honolulu will be released later in the week.

For the latest news and complete coverage of the Sandy Panthers' 2023 campaign, follow the team on social (@GSUBeachVB).

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