March 6, 2016
TEMPE, ARIZ. — The 17th-ranked South Carolina beach volleyball team went 1-1 on Saturday to wrap up play in the Sun Devil Challenge at the PERA Club.
The Gamecocks opened the day with a 3-2 victory over New Mexico but then fell to tournament host Arizona State 4-1. Carolina is now 2-2 on the season.
“Competing the way we did against New Mexico and Arizona State is what we play for,” said head coach Moritz Moritz. ” It was all the passion, emotion, tension, pressure, joy and frustration that we could handle. It was also both ends of the spectrum when it came down to the result. We try not to focus on the outcome but the process throughout, and the players came out raised it to a new level. I am incredibly proud of how they scrapped for every point. It was fun to watch them push through to finish against New Mexico, and it was hard to see the disappointment in their eyes after our loss to Arizona State. We will continue to learn and build. Now we have to turn our attention to Grand Canyon and prepare for another hard fight.”
In the win over New Mexico, the Gamecocks rallied from a 2-0 deficit and won the next three matches to clinch the victory.
The Lobos’ pairs at Nos. 4 and 5 got them on the board early. Madi Mayfield and Carson Heilborn defeated Litsa Darby and Darian Dozier 21-18 and 21-11 at No. 5. Easten Baleto and Marisa Doran edged Jade Vitt and Katie McCormick by the scores of 21-19 and 21-19.
The Gamecocks responded with two-set wins at Nos. 1 and 3 before clinching the match with a three-set victory at No. 2. Macie Tendrich and Katie Reilly topped Hannah Johnson and Julia Warren 21-19 and 21-19 at No. 3, and Julia Mannisto and Shannon Williams defeated Lisa Rugland and Cassie House in the No. 1 spot.
Sarah Blomgren and Aubrey Ezell secured the match with a 21-19, 18-21, 15-11 win over Devanne Sours and Ashley Kelsey on the No. 2 court.
In the exhibition match, Erin Neuenfeldt and Delaney Wood dropped Allie Askew and Chloe Crappell 21-17 and 21-15.
In the dual with Arizona State, Blomgren and Ezell picked up lone point for Carolina with a 21-17, 18-21, 17-5 win over Kwyn Johnson and Logan Rae at No. 2.
Neuenfeldt and Wood fell 21-17 and 21-18 to Frances Giedraitis and Kylie Pickrell on the No. 5 court. Vitt and McCormick went to three sets with ASU’s No. 4 pair of Mia Rivera and Jourdan Parnell before falling by the scores of 14-21, 21-11,15-9.
The Sun Devils clinched the win over the Gamecocks with a 21-17, 21-23, 15-11 victory by Bianca Arellano and Whitney Follette over Julia Mannisto and Shannon Williams at the No 1 spot. Tendrich and Reilly fell 22-20, 22-24, 15-12 to Madison Berridge and Bethany Wedepohl at No. 3.
In the exhibition match, Darby and Dozier defeated Blair Robalin and Natalie Braun 21-14 and 24-22.
South Carolina returns to action Sunday in Phoenix as they take on Grand Canyon at 2 p.m.
Dual Results
No. 17 South Carolina 3, New Mexico 2
No. 1: Julia Mannisto/ Shannon Williams (SC) def. Lisa Rugland/Cassie House (NM) 21-17, 21-17
No. 2: Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Devanne Sours/Ashley Kelsey (NM) 21-19, 18-21, 15-11
No. 3: Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Hannah Johnson/Julia Warren (NM) 21-19, 21-19
No. 4: Easten Baleto/Marisa Doran (NM) def. Jade Vitt/Katie McCormick (SC) 21-19, 21-19
No. 5: Madi Mayfield/Carson Heilborn (NM) def. Darian Dozier/Litsa Darby (SC) 21-18, 21-11
Exh.: Erin Neuendfelt/Delaney Wood (SC) def. Allie Askew/Chloe Crappell (NM) 21-17, 21-15
Arizona State 4, No. 17 South Carolina 1 No. 1: Bianca Arellano/Whitney Follette (ASU) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) 21-17, 21-23, 15-11
No. 2: Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Kwyn Johnson/Logan Rae (ASU) 21-17, 18-21, 17-15
No. 3: Madison Berridge/Bethany Wedepohl (ASU) def. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) 22-20, 22-24, 15-12
No. 4: Mia Rivera/Jourdan Parnell (ASU) def. Jade Vitt/Katie McCormick (SC) 14-21, 21-11, 15-9
No. 5: Frances Giedraitis/Kylie Pickrell (ASU) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Delaney Wood (SC) 21-17, 21-18
Exh.: Litsa Darby/Darian Dozier (SC) def. Blair Robalin/Natalie Braun (ASU) 21-14, 24-22
