RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University beach program is off to South Carolina this weekend for the C of C Beach Classic hosted by the College of Charleston beginning on Friday, April 12.
The Colonels start the weekend with two matches on Friday, first against the hosting Cougars at 9 a.m. and then Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m.
EKU will finish their trip on Saturday morning against UNC Wilmington at 9 a.m.
The Colonels head to Charleston, 15-8 on the season riding a five-match win streak.
EKU has been on one of the hottest streaks in program history, winning 10 of their last 11 matches.
Sarah Mitchell and
Paityn Walker have provided a lot of fuel in the hot streak, winning 10 of their last 11 from the top-flight, shooting them to No. 13 in the NCAA rankings for top pairs by CollegeBeachVolleyball.com.
The duo is 15-6 against NCAA opponents this season with a winning percentage of 71.4%, the highest of any pair in EKU history with over 10 matches played in a season.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Charleston is 9-14 in 2024, but went 2-1 last weekend at Jacksonville, losing to the Dolphins 4-1, but defeating Palm Beach State and St. Johns River College, 5-0.
EKU is 0-3, all-time against C of C, with the most recent meeting coming last season as the Cougars won, 4-1.
SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS
Coastal is in the midst of a program-record 13-match winning streak, with a record of 18-6 on the season.
The Chanticleers are led by the No. 10 ranked top-pair in th country in Martine Kragholm and Sarah Riedell who are 17-5 on the season.
Madison Allred and Raychel Ehlers have won 13 consecutive bouts as a pair, the longest streak for any pair in program history. They are 11-0 at the No. 5 spot and are one of only three pairs in the NCAA with at least 11 wins and no losses in one flight.
EKU is 0-3 all-time against the Chants.
SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
UNCW is 17-8 coming into the weekend and are winners of their last three with wins against Mercer, UT Martin, and Morehead State.
They boast the No.16 ranked top pair in Sadie Sharkey and Gabby Lapata who hold a record of 16-7.
They are joined by Ellie Bucci and Sarah Thompson who are 10-2 at the No. 4 spot and currently are ranked fifth in the country for the flight.
