March 7, 2015

Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team opened the 2015 season with a 4-1 win over Mercer on Saturday night at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.

The Gamecocks (1-0) and Bears (0-2) kept the crowd of 627 entertained, as three of the five pairs matches went to three sets, including the decisive No. 5 pairs match.

With Carolina leading 2-1 after wins at No. 2 and No. 3, the Gamecocks’ No. 5 pair of KoKo Atoa-Williams and Allie Monserez split the first two sets with Mercer’s Jessica Johnson and Gretia Otten, winning the first 21-14 before falling in the second 21-19. Otten and Johnson took a 13-11 lead late in the third set, but Atoa-Williams and Monserez fought back to avoid defeat. With the match tied at 18-18, Atoa-Williams and Monserez scored the next two points to win the match and seal the victory for the Gamecocks.

“That’s a testament to another year of experience,” South Carolina head coach Moritz Moritz said of his team’s ability to finish the dual strong. “Last year under these circumstances we would come out stronger in the first game and kind of wither away in the second and third sets if we got into those scenarios. Now we are finding ways to battle, and that’s huge for us.”

Carolina’s No. 1 pair of sophomore Maddie Frome and freshman Julia Mannisto finished off the night defeating Mercer’s top pair of Emma Peel and Tori Penrod by the scores of 19-21, 24-22 and 15-12.

At No. 2 the Gamecocks’ senior tandem of Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent bounced back from a 21-13 loss to Zoe Becton and Emily Rochefort in the first set to cruise to a 21-11 win in set two and to hold on for a 17-15 win in the third set.

Carolina’s No. 3 pair of junior Sarah Blomgren and sophomore Jade Vitt picked up Carolina’s first point of the night, defeating Hannah Sorensen and Sophie Peel by the scores of 21-15 and 24-22.

Mercer’s Emily Krogman and Erin Brett won the point at No. 4 as they topped Carolina’s Jade Hayes and Macie Tendrich by the scores of 27-25 and 21-19.

In an exhibition match, the Gamecocks’ pair of Erin Neuenfeldt and Litsa Darby pushed past Mercer’s Claire Waliczek and Madison Kerr by the scores of 23-21 and 21-14.

In the Gold bracket of the pairs tournament, two Gamecock pairs advanced in the winner’s bracket. Carolina’s No. 1 pair of Frome and Mannisto went back and forth in the first set with ULM’s No. 3 pair of Claire Crossfield and Alannah Cullum before winning the set 25-23. Frome and Mannisto then cruised to a 21-13 win in the second set to stay in the winner’s bracket.

The Gamecocks’ No. 2 pair of Wheeler and Kent got off to a strong start in their match with ULM’s No. 2 pair of Katie Lindstrom and Hope Pawlik, winning the set 21-12. It took extra points for Wheeler and Kent to get past the Warhawks’ duo in the second set, as they went on to win the set 25-23.

Carolina’s No. 3 pair of Blomgren and Vitt fell into the Gold consolation bracket after losing to Georgia State’s No. 2 pair of Sarah Agnew and Katelyn Rawls by the scores of 21-15, 21-13.

In Silver bracket play, Carolina’s No. 4 pair of Hayes and Tendrich and No. 5 pair of Atoa-Williams and Monserez advanced to Sunday’s second round. Hayes and Tendrich defeated ULM’s No. 6 pair of Rachel Arnason and Celine Flores by the scores of 21-12 and 21-19. Atoa-Williams and Monserez went to three sets with ULM’s No. 5 pair of Kaitlyn Shearer and Taylor Zaeske before winning by the scores of 14-21, 23-21 and 17-15.

Georgia State’s No. 5 pair of Jessica Fourspring and Nina Interwies eliminated the Gamecocks’ No. 6 pair of Neuenfeldt and Darby, winning in two sets by the scores of 21-19 and 21-11.

The Gamecocks will wrap up the Carolina Classic on Sunday with a dual against ULM at 11 a.m. The dual will be streamed on the SEC Network+ digital platform. Pairs tournament play is set to begin at 8 a.m.

Results
South Carolina 4, Mercer 1
No. 1 Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) def. Emma Peel/Tori Penrod (MU) 19-21, 24-22, 15-12
No. 2 Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) def. Zoe Becton/Emily Rochefort (MU) 13-21, 21-11, 17-15
No. 3 Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Hannah Sorensen/Sophie Peel (MU) 21-15, 24-22
No. 4 Emily Krogman/Erin Brett (MU) def. Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) 27-25, 21-19
No. 5 KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Jessica Johnson/Gretia Otten (MU) 21-14, 19-21, 20-18
Exh. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) def. Claire Waliczek/Madison Kerr (MU) 23-21, 21-14

Gold Bracket – First Round
Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) def. Claire Crossfield/Alannah Cullum (ULM) 25-23, 21-13
Sarah Agnew/Katelyn Rawls (GSU) def. Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) 21-15, 21-13
Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) def. Katie Lindstrom/Hope Pawlik (ULM) 21-12, 25-23

Silver Bracket – First Round
Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Rachel Arnason/Celine Flores (ULM) 21-12, 21-19
Jessica Fourspring/Nina Interwies (GSU) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) 21-19, 21-11
KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Kaitlyn Shearer/Taylor Zaeske (ULM) 14-21, 23-21, 17-15