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LakePoint, Ga. – The No. 1 pairing of Claire Coppola and Kristen Nuss continued their outstanding start to the season by sweeping their matches at the Gamecock Grand Slam to capture this week's CCSA Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week honors, the league announced on Tuesday. 

Playing against three nationally ranked opponents, Coppola and Nuss took care of business all weekend long in Columbia, S.C. at the Gamecock Grand Slam. The duo opened play against CCSA rival and No. 11 ranked Georgia State and posted a straight-set victory of 21-16, 21-16. To close out the opening day of the event, Coppola and Nuss faced off with the top-pair of Jacksonville State. They defeated the duo of Katie Will and Kaylie Milton 21-8, 21-14 to help the Tigers earn the dual victory. 

In Sunday's action, the No. 1 pair from LSU opened the day against the nation's top-ranked team Pepperdine. Playing at the No. 1 court, Coppola and Nuss took a tightly contested opening set 21-18. They won the match with a thrilling 23-21 victory in set two to sweep Pepperdine's top-pairing of Brook Bauer and Madalyn Roh, marking the second time that Coppola and Nuss swept the pair. LSU's top pair closed out the weekend with another sweep, 21-16, 21-9 against No. 9-ranked South Carolina. 

The Tigers are going to be at home for the first time this season when they host the Tiger Beach Challenge on March 24-25. LSU is set to take on Stetson, Florida Atlantic and New Orleans on day one. The Tigers will close out the weekend against College of Charleston and Tulane on Sunday.     

CCSA Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week - Mar. 20th
Claire Coppola | Sophomore | Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kristen Nuss | Sophomore | New Orleans, La.
- Continued their outstanding season with a perfect 4-0 record at the Gamecock Grand Slam on court No. 1 
- Defeated three top-11 ranked opponents in Columbia to improve to 12-4 on the season
- Opened the week with a straight-set 21-16, 21-16 win against the top pair from No. 11 Georgia State
- Closed out the first game day with 21-8, 21-14 victory against Jacksonville State's top pairing
- Posted a straight-set 21-18, 23-21 thrilling win against No. 1 Pepperdine to open the final event day
- Closed out the weekend with a dominating 21-16, 21-9 performance against No. 9-ranked South Carolina 

Other Nominees: Devon Rachel/McKala Rhodes, College of Charleston; Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris, FAU; Federica Frasca/Margherita Bianchin, FIU; Macie Tendrich/Leah Perri, South Carolina; Madeline Mertz / Kaylie McHugh, Tulane University; Devon May/Kenley Adams, UAB.