RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University beach volleyball program is headed to Columbia, S.C. for the Carolina Challenge hosted by the University of South Carolina beginning Saturday, March 15.
 
The Colonels (5-3) will face four high-caliber teams beginning Saturday at 9 a.m. with the College of Charleston before facing UNCW at 3 p.m.
 
On Sunday, EKU will take on host South Carolina (RV) at 11 a.m. and close the weekend out against Coastal Carolina at 3 p.m.
 
EKU enters the tournament after splitting its four matches in Birmingham, Ala. last week.
 
Paityn Walker set a new program record of wins in a career, earning her 52^nd and 53^rd wins as her and partner Gabriella Armitage went 2-2 in the top-flight.
 
Also going 2-2 last time out was the duo of Rachel Mueller and Molly Shomock improving their season record as a pair to 6-2.
 
Mueller and Shomock are currently ranked 20^th in the AVCA standings for pairs in the No. 2 spot.
 
Scouting the Cougars
 
C of C is 4-5 so far in 2025 and come to Columbia having lost four of its last five matches.
 
The Cougars' only win in that period came on March 5 against Tennessee Tech and marked their first win over a Division I opponent on the season.
 
All-time the Cougars are 4-0 against EKU.
 
Scouting the Seahawks
 
UNCW is 3-2 on the season last competing on Feb. 28 in a doubleheader against C of C where the Seahawks won both matches, 4-1.
 
The Seahawks' top pair comes in the No. 2 spot with Gracie Sistrunk and Lyvia Trimp who are a perfect 5-0 in 2025.
 
The pair is currently No. 6 in the AVCA standings for No. 2 pairs.
The Colonels will be seeking their first win ever against UNCW with their last meeting ending in a 5-0 defeat last April.
 
Scouting the Gamecocks
 
South Carolina is receiving votes in the national AVCA Division I rankings at 5-4 with notable wins over FGCU, UAB, and Jacksonville.
 
The Gamecocks' top-performing pair this season is Virginia Blair Trost and Evie Zieffer who currently rank 9^th in the national standings for No. 4 pairs.
 
EKU will see a familiar face wearing garnet in current South Carolina assistant coach Bailey Rima who played for the Colonels through 2024.
 
Scouting the Chanticleers
 
Picked second in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll, Coastal Carolina is 6-8 on the year having lost its last eight matches against tough Division I opponents.
 
In that stretch, the Chants faced No. 12 Texas, RV Tulane, RV Texas A&M-Corpus Christi twice, RV Arizona, No. 10 Arizona State, and No. 6 Cal Poly.