March 22, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Trailing 2-1 in its Gamecock Invitational dual with UAB on Saturday afternoon, the South Carolina sand volleyball team fought back to take the final two pairs matches and claim a 3-2 victory at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex in front of a crowd of 812.
With the win the Gamecocks improve to 4-4 on the season. UAB drops to 1-4 overall.
South Carolina fell behind 1-0, as its No. 4 pair of KoKo Atoa-Williams and Erin Neuenfeldt lost in straight sets to the Blazers’ Sara Richell and Rachel Fairbanks, 21-19 and 21-8.
The Gamecocks then tied the dual at 1-1 with a win on court No. 2, with Mikaela Christiaansen and Jade Vitt defeating UAB’s Alison Woods and Sam Serley in two sets by the scores of 21-17 and 21-17.
UAB grabbed a 2-1 lead when its No. 1 pair of Kiri Hirni and Bethani Thomas slipped past Carolina’s Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent, 21-19 and 21-16.
The Blazers seemed to be on their way to winning the dual as they led on courts three and five in the second set, but the Gamecocks’ three pair of Chynna Ratner and Jordan Loney battled back to win 24-22 to force a third set with UAB’s Amber Treace and Ally Slaughter. Carolina’s No 5 pair of Litsa Darby and Morgan LaVigne followed suit, edging Becca Howard and Gabby Deschotel in the second set by the score of 21-19.
LaVigne and Darby cruised to a 15-8 win in the third set to win their match and event the dual at 2-2, and after falling behind early, Loney and Ratner rallied to claim a 15-12 win to clinch the dual for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina returns to action tonight at 7 against LSU at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.
South Carolina 3, UAB 2
No. 1 Kiri Hirni/Bethani Thomas (UAB) def. Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) 21-19, 21-16
No. 2 Mikaela Christiaansen/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Alison Woods/Sam Serley (UAB) 21-17, 21-17
No. 3 Chynna Ratner/Jordan Loney (SC) def. Amber Treace/Ally Slaughter (UAB) 21-18, 22-24, 15-12
No. 4 Sara Richell/Rachel Fairbanks (UAB) def. KoKo Atoa-Williams/Erin Neuenfeldt (SC) 21-19, 21-8
No. 5 Litsa Darby/Morga LaVigne (SC) def. Becca Howard/Gabby Deschotel (UAB) 18-21, 21-19, 15-8
