LakePoint, Ga. - No. 1 Florida State collected its third consecutive Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Beach Volleyball Championship as the Seminoles prevailed in wet conditions against LSU in Sunday's final. Both teams battled the elements but put on a show for the fans in attendance as four of the five matches went to three sets.
Championship Final Recap: Box Score
No. 1 Florida State captured its third straight CCSA Beach Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 victory against LSU at the Rally Volleyball courts at LakePoint Sporting Community. In what turned out to be one of the best matches of the beach volleyball season, four of the five courts went to three sets as neither side was giving an inch looking to bring home the hardware. Florida State got the first point on the board when CCSA Pair of the Tournament, Katie Horton and Hailey Luke won a hard-fought battle 21-18, 21-19. All four other courts went into the third set as on Court 3, Macy Jerger and Sara Putt battled from a set down to win 21-15 and 15-9 in the third and deciding set.
With the match hanging in the balance and all three other courts in the third set, the attention turned to Court 5 where Francesca Goncalves and Eva Torruella won the first set 21-17, but dropped the second 19-21. In a back and forth battle in the third set, the Seminole duo prevailed 15-12 as a service error set off the wild celebrations on Court 5 by the players and coaching staff. The other two courts stopped play with Florida State leading the matches in the third set by a very close margin.
The next stop is the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship which will be played in Gulf Shores, Ala. on May 4-6. The NCAA Selection show is scheduled for Sunday, April 29 where eight teams will hear their name called. Both of today's finalist hope to see their name up on the board. Florida State has played in each of the last two NCAA National Championships, while LSU also made the trip to Gulf Shores last year.
All-Tournament Team:
- Katie Horton / Hailey Luke, Florida State - MVP
- Macy Jerger / Sara Putt, Florida State
- Claire Coppola / Kristen Nuss, LSU
- Federica Frasca / Margherita Bianchin, Florida International
- Shannon Williams / Ali Denney, South Carolina
- Brooke Weiner / Tiffany Creamer, Georgia State
- Maddy Mertz / Kaylie McHugh, Tulane
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