September 26, 2025

South Carolina University Beach Volleyball Team Begins Season

News Summary

The South Carolina beach volleyball team is gearing up for its 12th season at the Dolphin Duals, competing against top opponents. With significant roster changes, including the departure of key players, the team aims to improve upon last year’s challenges. New transfers bolster the squad, and the Gamecocks are striving to build on their academic success. Coach Moritz looks to enhance the team’s performance as they embark on a competitive schedule, hoping to make a strong statement in the upcoming season.

Jacksonville, FL – The South Carolina beach volleyball team is set to begin its 12th season, competing in the Dolphin Duals hosted by Jacksonville University on February 22-23. The tournament will feature matches against four opponents, including No. 18 North Florida and UNCW on Saturday, followed by contests against Jacksonville and USF on Sunday.

As the Gamecocks approach the 2025 season, they come with significant roster changes, having lost six players from last year’s lineup, including four starters from the 2024 CCSA conference tournament. Among the notable departures are 20-game winners Skylar Allen and Hannah Mackenhausen. To bolster the squad, South Carolina has added several transfers, including Jordan Benoit and Juju Quintero from Pepperdine, and Rachel Hartmann, who previously had a successful stint at Southeastern Louisiana.

This season, South Carolina boasts an all-time record of 193-122 since the program’s inception in 2014. Head coach Moritz Moritz continues to make his mark, ranking 11th in the NCAA record books for career wins, with a collegiate record of 173-103 since beach volleyball was recognized as an NCAA sport in 2016. The Gamecocks are starting the season after receiving votes in the AVCA top-20 poll, marking their last time ranked on April 16, 2024.

The team will play a total of 29 duals during the 2025 season, which includes 12 matches against ranked opponents and six more against teams receiving votes. Last year, the Gamecocks faced challenges, especially in close matches, losing seven duals by a score of 3-2 and achieving a win percentage of .429 in three-set matches, the lowest since 2016. Despite these setbacks, they also found success in academic performance, earning the AVCA Team Academic Award for the summer, marking their 10th consecutive year of such recognition. The program is one of only three beach volleyball teams to reach this milestone, alongside Georgia State and Stanford, boasting a team GPA of 3.78 for the past school year and a spring GPA of 3.83.

However, heading into the new season, the Gamecocks face a gap in experience, with only six players having started more than 30 collegiate matches. This could affect their performance as they adapt to the challenges of a competitive schedule against strong opponents. Retaining some of last season’s talent, the Gamecocks will count on 20-game winners Jolie Cranford and Riley Whitesides, along with the CCSA Freshman of the Year, Julia Waugh, who recorded a notable 17-8 win-loss record last season.

The upcoming Dolphin Duals represent not just the start of a season, but also an opportunity for the Gamecocks to put their skills to the test against seasoned competition. With significant changes in the roster and the desire to improve upon last season’s challenges, South Carolina aims to make a strong statement as they embark on their journey in beach volleyball for 2025.

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Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER

The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.

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