Nov. 9, 2013
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team gained valuable experience in the program’s first ever competition on Saturday as it faced Florida State and Georgia State in an exhibition at the Seminole Sand Volleyball Complex.
The Gamecocks competed against the Seminoles and Georgia State in pool play, and each match was decided by two sets to 21 points. South Carolina won four sets on the afternoon and will use the experience to build toward its competition season, which begins in March.
“We started off a little rough, but I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls and competitors,” South Carolina head coach Moritz Moritz said. “We definitely played our best volleyball at the end of the day. We have a long ways to go and a lot to learn but we took strides in the right direction today.”
Sophomore Jordan Loney and freshman Chynna Ratner split their match against Florida State’s Julia Thompson and Blyss Harkness, winning the first set 21-17 before falling in the second set 21-18.
Loney and sophomore Litsa Darby lost 23-21 in the first set against Georgia State’s Alexis Townsend and Jessica Fourspring but rebounded to win the second set 22-20.
Loney was a part of South Carolina’s third split as well as she teamed up with freshman Jade Vitt against Georgia State’s Milani Pickering and Natalie Wilson. Loney and Vitt dropped the first set 21-19 before claiming the second set 29-27.
Junior Paige Wheeler and senior Megan Kent also earned a split against Georgia State’s Alexis Elmurr and Karlee Kavanaugh, dropping the first set 24-22 and winning the second set 21-11.
The Gamecocks will open the program’s first season of competition in March. Dates and locations of the events will be released when the schedule has been finalized.
