Friday, May 4
Gulf Shores, Ala.
8:00 AM
USC
1
vs
3
Florida State vs. USC
Photo by: Trevor Will / Pac-12
USC Falls to Florida State, 3-1, in NCAA Beach First Round
May 04, 2018 | Women's Beach Volleyball, Features
The Women of Troy had their 12-match Gulf Shores winning streak snapped in a loss to the Seminoles
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The No. 5-seed USC beach volleyball team (25-13) dropped a 3-1 decision to fourth-seeded Florida State (31-6) in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship on Friday, May 4.
The loss snapped the Trojans' 12-match winning streak on Gulf Shores sand and was the program's first-ever loss in the NCAA tournament. It also snapped USC's six-match winning streak over the Seminoles and dropped the Trojans to 8-4 all-time against FSU.
Because the tournament is a double-elimination format, the Women of Troy will return to the sand at 1 p.m. CT (11 a.m. PT) for a match against eighth-seeded Florida International (22-11) in the elimination bracket. The Panthers lost, 3-0, to top-seeded UCLA in the tournament's opening match. USC is 3-0 in three previous meetings with FIU, which includes a 4-1 win on March 10, 2018.
Florida State and USC scored their first points almost simultaneously. At the bottom of the lineup, senior Jenna Belton and freshman Maja Kaiser were defeated by Madison Fitzpatrick and Francesca Goncalves, 21-13, 21-15, to give the Seminoles a brief 1-0 lead. Seconds later, junior Abril Bustamante and freshman Tina Graudina took down Vanessa Freire and Victoria Paranagua, 21-14, 21-12, to even the dual and collected their 29th victory of the season.
The Seminoles went ahead again with a close win at the third position when Macy Jerger and Sara Putt defeated sophomores Joy Dennis and Cammie Dorn, 21-16, 22-20. At court four, freshman Haley Hallgren and senior Alexandra Poletto took a 23-21 win in the first set over Brooke Kuhlman and Molly McBain, but the Seminole duo fought back for a 21-16 win in the second. The match was suspended, however, when Florida State scored the clinching point with a three-set win at court two.
At the No. 2 position, Katie Horton and Hailey Luke earned a 21-13 win over senior Terese Cannon and freshman Sammy Slater in the first set, but the Trojans fought back to take a 21-16 win in the second. The Seminoles overpowered the USC duo for a 15-8 win in the third set and sealed the win for Florida State.
For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, and Snapchat.
[4] No. 7 Florida State def. [5] No. 5 USC, 3-1
2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship • First Round
Gulf Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Records: USC (25-13), Florida State (31-6)
1. Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Vanessa Freire/Victoria Paranagua (FSU); 21-14, 21-12
2. Katie Horton/Hailey Luke (FSU) def. Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC); 21-13, 16-21, 15-8
3. Macy Jerger/Sara Putt (FSU) def. Joy Dennis/Cammie Dorn (USC); 21-16, 22-20
4. Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC) vs. Brooke Kuhlman/Molly McBain (FSU); 23-21, 16-21 DNF
5. Madison Fitzpatrick/Francesca Goncalves (FSU) def. Jenna Belton/Maja Kaiser (USC); 21-13, 21-15
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 2*
The loss snapped the Trojans' 12-match winning streak on Gulf Shores sand and was the program's first-ever loss in the NCAA tournament. It also snapped USC's six-match winning streak over the Seminoles and dropped the Trojans to 8-4 all-time against FSU.
Because the tournament is a double-elimination format, the Women of Troy will return to the sand at 1 p.m. CT (11 a.m. PT) for a match against eighth-seeded Florida International (22-11) in the elimination bracket. The Panthers lost, 3-0, to top-seeded UCLA in the tournament's opening match. USC is 3-0 in three previous meetings with FIU, which includes a 4-1 win on March 10, 2018.
Florida State and USC scored their first points almost simultaneously. At the bottom of the lineup, senior Jenna Belton and freshman Maja Kaiser were defeated by Madison Fitzpatrick and Francesca Goncalves, 21-13, 21-15, to give the Seminoles a brief 1-0 lead. Seconds later, junior Abril Bustamante and freshman Tina Graudina took down Vanessa Freire and Victoria Paranagua, 21-14, 21-12, to even the dual and collected their 29th victory of the season.
The Seminoles went ahead again with a close win at the third position when Macy Jerger and Sara Putt defeated sophomores Joy Dennis and Cammie Dorn, 21-16, 22-20. At court four, freshman Haley Hallgren and senior Alexandra Poletto took a 23-21 win in the first set over Brooke Kuhlman and Molly McBain, but the Seminole duo fought back for a 21-16 win in the second. The match was suspended, however, when Florida State scored the clinching point with a three-set win at court two.
At the No. 2 position, Katie Horton and Hailey Luke earned a 21-13 win over senior Terese Cannon and freshman Sammy Slater in the first set, but the Trojans fought back to take a 21-16 win in the second. The Seminoles overpowered the USC duo for a 15-8 win in the third set and sealed the win for Florida State.
For more information on the three-time national champion USC beach volleyball team and a complete schedule, please visit USCTrojans.com and follow @USCBeach on Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, Instagram, and Snapchat.
[4] No. 7 Florida State def. [5] No. 5 USC, 3-1
2018 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship • First Round
Gulf Place • Gulf Shores, Ala.
Friday, May 4, 2018
Records: USC (25-13), Florida State (31-6)
1. Abril Bustamante/Tina Graudina (USC) def. Vanessa Freire/Victoria Paranagua (FSU); 21-14, 21-12
2. Katie Horton/Hailey Luke (FSU) def. Terese Cannon/Sammy Slater (USC); 21-13, 16-21, 15-8
3. Macy Jerger/Sara Putt (FSU) def. Joy Dennis/Cammie Dorn (USC); 21-16, 22-20
4. Haley Hallgren/Alexandra Poletto (USC) vs. Brooke Kuhlman/Molly McBain (FSU); 23-21, 16-21 DNF
5. Madison Fitzpatrick/Francesca Goncalves (FSU) def. Jenna Belton/Maja Kaiser (USC); 21-13, 21-15
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 2*
Beach Volleyball - USC 1, LMU 3: Highlights (5/3/25)
Saturday, May 03
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, North Florida 0: Highlights (5/2/25)
Friday, May 02
USC Beach's Madison White | Trojans Live 4.14.25
Monday, April 14
Beach Volleyball - USC 3, Cal Poly 2: Highlights (4/11/25)
Friday, April 11
