April 12, 2015
SIESTA KEY, Fla. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team wrapped up play at the Fiesta on Siesta Key Pairs Tournament with another solid performance on Sunday.
Two of the three Gamecock pairs competing in the Fiesta on Siesta Pairs bracket play advanced to the final of their brackets.
Carolina’s Maddie Frome and Julia Mannisto received a first-round bye in the silver bracket and advanced to the semifinals with a straight set victory over Jacksonville’s Emily Laskelle and Mayara Prestes by the scores of 21-19 and 21-17. In the semifinals, Frome and Mannisto needed three sets to get past FIU’s Anna Budinksa and Martyna Gluchowicz, winning by the scores of 14-21, 21-16 and 15-10. The Gamecock tandem came up short of winning the bracket, falling to Florida State’s Kristina Pellitteri and Victoria Paranagua by the scores of 21-9 and 21-17 in the final.
In the bronze bracket, the Gamecock duo of Sarah Blomgren and Jade Vitt won their first-round matchup with Florida Atlantic’s Chelsey Tekavec and Alyssa Warren by the scores of 22-20 and 21-10. Blomgren and Vitt bounced back from a first-set loss in the quarterfinals to defeat North Florida’s Tessa Alyman and Tanner Garbutt by the scores of 19-21, 21-17 and 15-7. In the semifinals, the Gamecock tandem earned a straight-set victory over FIU’s Marina Boulanger and Darija Sataric by the scores of 23-21 and 21-17. However, Blomgren and Vitt fell to Stetson’s Kristin Lind and Maren Rygh in the final, 21-16 and 21-15.
After going 3-0 in pool play on Saturday, Carolina’s Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent earned a spot in the gold bracket. The senior tandem battled back and forth with UAB’s Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas but came up short in three sets, losing by the scores of 15-21, 21-18 and 15-10.
Carolina’s No. 4-10 pairs also competed on Sunday in invitation play in self-officiated matches. However, results were unavailable at the scorer’s tent. When results are received, they will be posted to gamecocksonline.com.
The Gamecocks will close out the regular season next weekend at the Battle on the Bayou hosted by LSU in Baton Rouge, La. Carolina will face Spring Hill (10 a.m. ET), LSU (3 p.m.) and ULM (6 p.m.) on Saturday and Tulane (11 a.m.) and New Orleans (1 p.m.) on Sunday.
Fiesta on Siesta Key Pairs Competition Bracket Play (Full Match)
Gold Bracket
First Round
Kiriana Hirini/Bethanie Thomas (UAB) def. Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) 15-21, 21-18, 15-10
Silver Bracket
First Round
Bye
Quarterfinals
Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) def. Emily Laskelle/Mayara Prestes (JU) 21-19, 21-17
Semifinals
Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) def. Anna Budinska/Martyna Gluchowicz (FIU) 14-21, 21-16, 15-10
Final
Kristina Pellitteri/Victoria Paranagua (FSU) def. Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) 21-9, 21-17
Bronze Bracket
First Round
Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Chelsey Tekavec/Alyssa Warren (FAU) 22-20, 21-10
Quarterfinals
Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Tessa Alyman/Tanner Garbutt (UNF) 19-21, 21-17, 15-7
Semifinals
Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) def. Marina Boulanger/Darija Sataric (FIU) 23-21, 21-17
Final
Kristin Lind/Maren Rygh (SU) def. Sarah Blomgren/Jade Vitt (SC) 21-16, 21-15
Invitation Pool Play (No. 4 & No. 5 Pairs)
Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Morris/Weed (LSU) 22-20, 21-15
Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Shurtz/Liddle (Tulane) 21-13, 19-21, 15-8
KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Young/Hiller (LSU) 21-18, 21-12
KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Direll/Strasner (Tulane) 21-17, 23-21
KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Pyle/Fraley (FAU) 21-16, 19-21, 15-12
