March 20, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina beach volleyball team fell to North Florida 4-1 but picked up a 5-0 win over Jacksonville State to close out the final day of the Carolina Classic at Wheeler Beach on Sunday.
The Gamecocks are now 9-4 on the year and 7-1 at home.
“Today was definitely a good learning experience,” said head coach Moritz Moritz. “North Florida is a good team, and they had a lot of momentum going into our matchup. We competed well and just have to learn how to push a little further to get through to that next level. We were also able to mix things up a little for our dual against Jacksonville State. That allowed us to give some different players experience, which is crucial down the road for the development of the group. I’m proud of how we competed. While we didn’t get the result we wanted, we will continue to forge ahead.”
South Carolina pushed four out of five matches to three sets with North Florida. Sarah Blomgren and Aubrey Ezell claimed the lone point for the Gamecocks with their win on court 2.
Jade Vitt and Delaney Wood fell 21-11, 21-14 to Ambre Desaulnay and Chaney Howard at No. 4, while Erin Neuenfeldt and Katie McCormick lost 21-16, 19-21, 15-13 to Carina Hoff and Shannon McPhersonon the No. 5 court.
North Florida’s Jessalyn Kinlaw and Megan Crawshaw defeated Julia Mannisto and Shannon Williams 10-21, 23-21, 15-10 at the No. 1 spot to clinch the win for the Ospreys. Macie Tendrich and Katie Reilly lost 21-11, 17-21, 15-10 in the No. 3 position to Courtney Miller and Katarina Raicevic.
Blomgren and Ezell rallied back after a first-set loss to take the match 20-22, 21-17, 16-14 over Lauren Ford and Kimberly Ferguson.
In the exhibition match, Litsa Darby and Lauren Percy defeated Brittany Pase and Nicole DeBolt 21-17, 22-20.
The Gamecocks rebounded with a win against Jacksonville State in their second match of the day.
Freshmen Katie Cross and Anna Joy Baumann earned their first collegiate start and win with a 21-9, 21-8 victory over Jordan Moorer and Hope Gaskin at No. 5. Reilly and Tendrich defeated Amanda Eberle and Anna O’Leary 21-9, 21-4 in the No. 4 position.
Mannisto and Williams clinched the match for Carolina when they downed Clingan and Rombach 21-6, 21-6 at the No. 2 spot.
Vitt and Wood put South Carolina up 4-0 when they topped Allison Zuhlke and Kira Hahn-Ventrell 21-15, 21-14 at No. 3, while Blomgren and Ezell closed out the day for the Gamecocks when they won 21-15, 21-12 over Hannah Kirk and Charis Ludtke at the top spot.
South Carolina is back in action on Tuesday, March 22 as they host College of Charleston at 6 p.m. at Wheeler Beach.
Dual Results
North Florida 4, South Carolina 1
1: Jessalyn Kinlaw/Megan Crawshaw (UNF) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) 10-21, 23-21, 15-10
2: Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Andrea Galinis/Chelsey Tekavec (UNF) 20-22, 21-17, 16-14
3: Nicole Grant/Nicole Navarro (UNF) def. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) 21-11, 17-21, 15-10
4: Brittany Pelliterri/Heather Weiss (UNF) def. Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) 21-11, 21-14
5: Ashlan Cunningham/Julia Lewkowicz (UNF) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Katie McCormick (SC) 21-16, 19-21, 15-13
Exh.: Litsa Darby/Lauren Percy (SC) def. Brittany Pase/Nicole DeBolt (UNF) 21-17, 22-20
South Carolina 5, Jacksonville State 0
1: Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Hannah Kirk/Charis Ludtke (JSU) 21-15, 21-12
2: Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Ashley Clingan/Mackenzie Rombach (JSU) 21-6, 21-6
3: Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) def. Allison Zuhlke/Kira Hahn-Ventrell (JSU) 21-15, 21-14
4: Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Amanda Eberle/Anna O’Leary (JSU) 21-9, 21-4
5: Katie Cross/Anna Joy Baumann (SC) def. Jordan Moorer/Hope Gaskin (JSU) 21-9, 21-8
