March 10, 2015
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team picked up the program’s first road win with a 4-1 victory over UAB on Tuesday afternoon at the UAB Sand Courts.
After going 0-4 in true road duals in 2014, the Gamecocks left little doubt about coming away with a victory on Tuesday as they won four of the five matches over the Blazers (0-1) in two sets. Carolina, the 20th-ranked team in the latest DiG Magazine Sand Poll, is now 3-0 on the season.
“I think to be able to go on the road and continue to show improvement and be able to adapt with the weather conditions against a very good UAB team is showing the growth of this team,” South Carolina head coach Moritz Moritz said. “We still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve upon, but it’s exciting to see these student-athletes learn to continue to elevate their play. There are no weak opponents, and we can’t afford to get complacent, so we will work to keep building momentum going forward.”
Carolina’s No. 1 pair of Maddie Frome and Julia Mannisto and the No. 2 pair of Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent gave the Gamecocks an early 2-0 lead in the dual. Frome and Mannisto dispatched UAB’s Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas in two sets by the scores of 21-15 and 21-14. Wheeler and Kent moved to 6-1 overall this season as they earned the second point, defeating UAB’s Ally Slaughter and Leslie Ekpe by the scores of 21-15 and 21-15.
The Gamecocks’ No. 4 pair of Jade Hayes and Macie Tendrich made quick work of the Blazers’ Anna-Mae Messisco and Gabbi Morena to clinch the win for Carolina, winning by the scores of 21-13 and 21-10.
The tandem of Sarah Blomgren and Jade Vitt secured the fourth point at No. 4 as they topped UAB’s Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell 21-16 and 21-16.
UAB picked up its only point of the afternoon in the No. 5 match, as Becca Howard and Avei Logoleo squeezed past Carolina’s KoKo Atoa-Williams and Allie Monserez in three sets by the scores of 16-21, 21-18 and 15-9.
In the exhibition match, Carolina’s Litsa Darby and Erin Neuenfeldt took down UAB’s Emma Schroer and Haley Jared by the scores of 21-17 and 21-10.
The Gamecocks return to action on Wednesday at the Georgia State Diggin’ Duals in Atlanta, Ga. The schedule for the event has changed, as Carolina will now only play New Orleans at 1 p.m. and will wrap up the day against Georgia State at 5 p.m.
Results
South Carolina 4, UAB 1
No. 1 Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) def. Kiriana Hirini/Bethanie Thomas (UAB) 21-15, 21-14
No. 2 Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) def. Ally Slaughter/Leslie Ekpe (UAB) 21-15, 21-15
No. 3 Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Rachel Fairbanks/Sara Rishell (UAB) 21-16, 21-16
No. 4 Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Anna-Mae Messisco/Gabbi Moreno (UAB) 21-13, 21-10
No. 5 Becca Howard/Avei Logoleo (UAB) def. KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) 16-21, 21-18, 15-9
Exh. Litsa Darby/Erin Neuenfeldt (SC) def. Emma Schroer/Haley Jared (UAB) 21-17, 21-10
