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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Top-seeded and 14th-ranked Georgia State sprinted through four matches this week, not dropping a single set, to win the inaugural Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship on Saturday at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Ala. The Sandy Panthers defeated Coastal Carolina, 3-0, in Saturday’s final.
Georgia State (20-16) opened the match with a 21-13, 21-18 win as Sun Belt Conference Pair of the Year Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary defeated Coastal Carolina’s Sarah Riedell and Martine Kragholm at the top spot.
The Panthers’ Kelly Dorn and Elise Saga, who were named the Pair of the Tournament, earned a win at court three with a 21-15, 21-12 victory against Coastal Carolina’s Madison Allred and Raychel Ehlers.
Georgia State’s Maddy Delmonte and Ayla Johnson, who also were named to the All-Tournament Team, clinched the match with a 21-18, 21-17 decision at court four against the Chanticleers’ Emma Gonzalez and Elena Sanchez.
Georgia State earns the Sun Belt’s automatic berth to the 2023 NCAA National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship, to be held May 5-7 in Gulf Shores, Ala.
Third-seeded Coastal Carolina defeated sixth-seeded Southern Miss, 5-0, on Saturday morning to punch its ticket to the championship match.
For complete information about the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Beach Volleyball Championship, visit the
Championship Central page.
2023 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Pair of the Tournament: Kelly Dorn / Elise Saga, Georgia State
Maddy Delmonte / Ayla Johnson, Georgia State
Ellie Hanford / Emma Kunaus, Coastal Carolina
Sarah Riedell / Martine Kragholm, Coastal Carolina
Hallie Phelan / Taylor Pierce, Southern Miss
Gabi Bailey / Kyra Thompson, Charleston
2023 Sun Belt Beach Volleyball Championship – Day Three Results
Match 13 – (3) Coastal Carolina 5, (6) Southern Miss 0
Sarah Riedell / Martine Kragholm (CCU) def. Vanessa Hurnikova / Ola Chudzik (USM), 19-21, 23-21, 15-12
Sarlota Svobodova / Madie Lichty (CCU) def. Hallie Phelan / Taylor Pierce (USM), 22-24, 21-15, 15-10
Madison Allred / Raychel Ehlers (CCU) def. Reagan Sandlin / Valeria Siakidou Papakyriakou (USM), 21-10, 21-15
Emma Gonzalez / Elena Sanchez (CCU) def. Ashlyn Rough / Morgan Perry (USM), 21-19, 21-6
Ellie Hanford / Emma Kunaus (CCU) def. Madison Cassidy / Kellie Garraway (USM), 21-15, 21-14
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 5, 1, 2
Match 14 (Championship) – (1) Georgia State 3, (3) Coastal Carolina 0
Angel Ferary / Bella Ferary (GSU) def. Sarah Riedell / Martine Kragholm (CCU), 21-13, 21-18
Yasmin Kuck / Lila Bordis (GSU) vs. Sarlota Svobodova / Madie Lichty (CCU), 15-21, 20-18 (DNF)
Kelly Dorn / Elise Saga (GSU) def. Madison Allred / Raychel Ehlers (CCU), 21-15, 21-12
Maddy Delmonte / Ayla Johnson (GSU) def. Emma Gonzalez / Elena Sanchez (CCU), 21-18, 21-17
Destiny White / Aliisa Vuroinen (GSU) vs. Ellie Hanford / Emma Kunaus (CCU), 19-21, 20-15 (DNF)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4