Beach Volleyball Splits Matches on Final Day of Dolphin Duals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The South Carolina beach volleyball team closed out the opening weekend, splitting results against Jacksonville and No. 14 Stetson. The Gamecocks defeated the Dolphins 4-1 but fell to the Hatters, 4-1.

The Gamecocks captured wins from the first and second positions to kick off the match against Jacksonville.

Top duo Brooke Balue and Rachel Hartmann claimed a 21-11, 21-19 win on court one. Evie Ziffer and Julia Waugh followed suit with their third win of the weekend from court two, 21-16, 17-21, 15-13.

VB Trost and Grace Travis added another victory from court five with a three-set thriller, 21-12, 17-21, 16-14. Jolie Cranford and Peyton Yamagata secured the win for the Gamecocks after fighting back to win their court, 21-16, 23-25, 15-10.

Stetson grabbed the first wins on courts two and three, but South Carolina’s duo of Morgan Downs and Amelia Taft fought hard to capture a 17-21, 22-20, 15-9 victory on court five. However, the Hatters were too much for the Gamecocks, taking the match 4-1.

South Carolina is back in action on Feb.27-28 as they host the Wheeler Beach Bash. Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi round out the competition field. The Gamecocks first match will be on Friday at 11 a.m.

South Carolina 4, Jacksonville 1

1. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (USC) def. Claire Mrukowski /Megan Hair (JU) 21-11, 21-19
2. Evie Ziffer/Julia Waugh (USC) def. Jamie Seward /Hayden Garnet (JU) 21-16, 17-21, 15-13
3. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (USC) def. Avery Kleithermes/Morgan Perry (JU) 21-16, 23-25, 15-10. USC W.
4. Katie Martinez/Bre McDonough (JU) def. Juju Quintero/Annalyse Askew (USC) 21-17, 21-17
5. VB Trost/Grace Travis (USC) def. Kye Swink / Maddie Fielder (JU) 21-12, 17-21, 16-14
6. Amelia Taft/Morgan Downs (USC) def. Alize Lemieux /Lizzie Kitchen (JU) 21-12, 21, 14

South Carolina 1, No. 14 Stetson 4

1. Julia Radelczuk/EJ Cudmore (STETSON) def. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann 21-17, 14-21, 16-14
2. Marta Carro/Maria Ozaeta (STETSON) def. Evie Ziffer/Julia Waugh (USC) 23-21, 21-18
3. Anniina Muukka/Zoe Flueckiger (STETSON) def. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (USC) 21-19, 21-18
4. Julia Czurylo/Rylee Palmateer (STETSON) def. Juju Quintero/Annalyse Askew (USC) 21-13, 21-18
5. Morgan Downs/Amelia Taft (USC) def. Cayla Sutton/Madeline Camp (STETSON) 17-21, 22-20, 15-9
6. Dani Hernandez/Lucie Nosalkova (STETSON) TRUNCATED Lauren Lawson/Sadie Nelson 20-22, 21-12