Gamecocks Sweep Two Saturday Duals

DELAND, FLA. – South Carolina dropped just one set all afternoon in its final day at the Stetson Spring Fling, sweeping College of Charleston and Mercer. The Gamecocks finished the opening weekend of the season with a 3-1 record.
 
In the opener against the Cougars, the Gamecocks ran out to a 2-0 lead after the fours and fives stifled Charleston, who reached 16 points in just one set between the two courts. Skylar Allen and Alyssa Keller clinched the win and a 3-0 lead with a 21-15, 21-17 win at the number one pairing.
 
South Carolina made quick work of the Bears in the evening finale. Whitley Ballard and Hannah Mackenhausen secured a 4-0 weekend together with a 21-11, 21-11 win at No. 4 to kick off the dual. Jordan Smith and Lauren Wilcock allowed just 18 points total to Mercer in their win at No. 2 to clinch the team win and Peyton Gray and Sophie Manson capped off the 5-0 sweep with a 21-10, 21-15 win in the third flight.
 
The Gamecocks ramp up the competition next weekend, heading back out on the road for the Horned Frog Challenge at TCU. Along with playing the current No. 6 Horned Frogs, South Carolina will play Central Arkansas, No. 17 Georgia State and No. 3 Florida State.
 
For continued updates on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.
 
NOTABLE

• This was South Carolina’s best opening weekend since also going 3-1 in 2018, also at the Stetson Spring Fling.
• Whitley Ballard and Hannah Mackenhausen finished the weekend with a undefeated record, going 3-0 at No. 5 before moving up and winning at No. 4 in the finale vs. Mercer. On top of that success, the duo did not drop a single set in that span and their closest set score was a 21-17 win against FGCU.
• Ballard now has a 6-2 career record playing in the No. 4 position.
• Skylar Allen’s three wins at No. 1 this weekend gives her 23 for her career, the third-most by a Gamecock in the top spot in program history.
• Alyssa Keller joined Allen in the top pairing and now has eight career wins at No. 1. That moves her into the program’s top-10, all the way up to eighth.
• Jordan Smith went 3-1 at the second pairing this weekend and is 11-2 at No. 2 in her career. She moved into the top 10 for career wins at the second spot in the lineup. 

RESULTS
No. 18 South Carolina 5, College of Charleston
1: Allen/Keller def. Benjamin/Duncan (CofC), 21-15, 21-17
2: Smith/Wilcock def. Dunston/Falk (CofC), 22-20, 23-21
3: Gray/Manson def. Thompson/Reames (CofC), 19-21, 21-16, 15-12
4: Bengoechea/Crews def. Zweig/Bailey (CofC) 21-15, 12-21, 15-10
5: Ballard/Mackenhausen def. Olariu/Smeltzer (CofC), 21-13, 21-16
Ex: Ansel/Carroll def. 21-10, 21-15
Order of finish: 4,5,1*,2,3
*-Deciding Point
 
No. 18 South Carolina 5, Mercer 0
1: Allen/Keller def. Boeve/Polychrones (MER), 21-10, 21-11 
2: Smith/Wilcock def. O’Mara/Benson (MER), 21-6, 21-12 
3: Gray/Manson def. Robertson/Miller (MER), 21-10, 21-15
4: Ballard/Mackenhausen def. Hood/Paddock (MER), 21-11, 21-11
5: Bengoechea/Crews def. Corbett/Morris (MER), 21-13, 21-16
Ex: Ansel/Carroll def. Earwood/Sanfrey (MER), 21-10, 21-15
Order of finish: 5,4,2*,1,3