Beach Volleyball Wraps Up Opening Weekend
TAMPA, FLA. – Gamecock beach volleyball finished up action at the Tampa Invite Saturday. The team lost to No. 18 Arizona State (4-0) and No. 12 Georgia State (2-2) by scores of 4-1 and 3-2, respectively. South Carolina is 0-4 after the opening weekend of the regular season, it is the first time in program history that the Gamecocks went without a win in their opening weekend of the season. The team’s last four-game losing streak overall came back in March of 2017.
The team’s dual with Arizona State led off the day, with a similar theme plaguing the Gamecocks. The Sun Devils took a 2-0 lead in the team score thanks to three-set victories on courts four and five. South Carolina got on the board with a 23-21, 21-17 sweep of flight one by Skylar Allen and Allison Coens, but Arizona State swept the second and third pairs to clinch the team victory.
The team’s luck in three sets finally swung in the weekend finale against Georgia State. After the Panthers went up 1-0 with a sweep on court four, South Carolina was able to answer back with a three-set win from Jolie Cranford and Chase Teal in the fifth flight. It was the team’s first and only three-set victory (out of 10 opportunities) in the tournament. The Panthers pushed back ahead with a win on court one, but the Gamecocks again would answer. Hannah Mackenhausen and Riley Whitesides swept their match by the closest of margins, winning 22-20, 22-20 in the third flight. Georgia State finished off the dual with a win on court two to get the 3-2 final margin.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will compete at home for the next two weekends, opening the month with the Wheeler Beach Bash from March 2-3. South Carolina will host Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, UNCW and College of Charleston over the two days, with the Gamecocks competing at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For continued updates on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.
RESULTS
No. 18 Arizona State 4, No. 17 South Carolina 1
1: Skylar Allen and Allison Coens (SC) def. Anya Pemberton and Daniella Kensinger (ASU), 23-21, 21-17
2: Arden Besecker and Ava Williamson (ASU) def. Abigail Lagemann and Peyton Yamagata (SC), 21-15, 21-18
3: Lexi Sweeney and Taryn Ames (ASU) def. Riley Whitesides and Hannah Mackenhausen (SC), 21-18, 26-24
4: Ava Kirunchyk and Ava Haughy (ASU) def. Chase Teal and Jolie Cranford (SC), 13-21, 21-14, 15-13
5: Kendall Whitmarsh and Adri Nieves Papaleo (ASU) def. Evie Ziffer and Sophie Bengoechea (SC), 21-16, 17-21, 15-12
Order of finish: 4,5,1,2*,3
No. 12 Georgia State 3, No. 17 South Carolina 2
1: Angel Ferary and Bella Ferary (GSU) def. Skylar Allen and Allison Coens (SC), 21-19, 21-18
2: Lila Bordis and Aree Keller (GSU) def. Abigail Lagemann and Peyton Yamagata (SC), 21-18, 21-16
3: Riley Whitesides and Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Elise Saga and Alya Johnson (GSU), 22-20, 22-20
4: Savannah Ebarb and Destiny White (GSU) def. Morgan Downs and Sophie Bengoechea (SC), 21-18, 21-14
5: Chase Teal and Jolie Cranford (SC) def. Ellie Neville and Cassie Thayse (GSU), 21-15, 19-21, 15-7
Order of finish: 4,5,1,3,2*
