Gamecocks Come Up Short Against LSU, 4-1
March 22, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team dropped a 4-1 decision to LSU on Saturday night in the Gamecock Invitational at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.
After the Tigers took a 2-0 lead by winning on courts one and four, the Gamecocks (4-5) made things interesting by taking LSU (2-2) to three sets in the three remaining pairs matches. However, South Carolina’s No. 2 pair of Mikaela Christiaansen and Sarah Blomgren was the only pair to get a win for the Gamecocks down the stretch.
“Even though we didn’t get the result that we wanted, the girls definitely fought and improved tonight against a very solid LSU squad,” South Carolina head coach Moritz Moritz said. “We had our opportunities, but as the learning process continues, we are just working to fine-tune and improve our focus on ourselves. Our primary goal is to get better every day, and I think we achieved that tonight. Now we just have to continue taking strides in the right direction.”
In the No. 1 pairs match, the South Carolina duo of Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent fell in straight sets to LSU’s Meghan Mannari and Katie Lindelow, 21-18 and 21-14. The Tigers then took a 2-0 lead as their No. 4 pair of Malorie Pardo and Laura Whalen edged the Gamecocks’ Litsa Darby and Chynna Ratner in the first two sets, 21-18 and 24-22.
Christiaansen and Blomgren took down LSU’s Kaitlin Hatcher and Helen Boyle by the scores of 19-21, 21-17 and 15-9 to cut the Tigers’ lead to 2-1, but LSU clinched the victory with a win on court five, as South Carolina’s KoKo Atoa-Williams and Erin Neuenfeldt lost to Emma Hiller and Katarina Raicevic by the scores of 14-21, 21-16 and 15-13. Jordan Loney and Jade Vitt then came up just shy in their No. 3 pairs match with LSU’s Victoria Boraski and Cati Leak to end the night, losing 21-16, 11-21 and 16-14.
South Carolina will close out the Gamecock Invitational on Sunday afternoon with a match against ULM. First serve is set for 1:15 p.m.
LSU 4, South Carolina 1
No. 1 Meghan Mannari/Katie Lindelow (LSU) def. Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) 21-18, 21-14
No. 2 Mikaela Christiaansen/Sarah Blomgren (SC) def. Kaitlin Hatcher/Helen Boyle (LSU) 19-21, 21-17, 15-9
No. 3 Victoria Boraski/Cati Leak (LSU) def. Jordan Loney/Jade Vitt (SC) 21-16, 11-21, 16-14
No. 4 Malorie Pardo/Laura Whalen (LSU) def. Litsa Darby/Chynna Ratner (SC) 21-18, 24-22
No. 5 Emma Hiller/Katarina Raicevic (LSU) def. KoKo Atoa-Williams/Erin Neuenfeldt (SC) 14-21, 21-16, 15-13
