March 13, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina beach volleyball team closed out the Gamecock Challenge with a pair of wins on Sunday at Wheeler Beach to improve to 6-3 on the year.
Carolina opened the day with a 4-1 win over UAB and finished the day with a 5-0 victory over Coastal Carolina. Macie Tendrich and Katie Reilly went 4-0 on the weekend and now hold a five-match win streak.
“Any time you can go 4-0 against quality opponents and defend your home sand is tremendous,” said head coach Moritz Moritz. “Our players put a lot of heart into this weekend, and while we still have a lot to learn and improve on, we are super proud of their effort and resilience. We had a good weekend, and it’s always awesome to play on Wheeler Beach in front of our great Gamecock fans. Now we start preparations for our next opponent and continue to work on getting better.”
In the dual against UAB, Jade Vitt and Delaney Wood got the Gamecocks on the board with a 21-16, 21-13 win over Amber Treace and Zahria Richard at the No. 4 spot, but UAB evened the score at 1-1 after Gabbi Moreno and Emily Martinez edged Erin Neuenfeldt and Katie McCormick 19-21, 21-11, 15-8 at No. 5.
At the No. 1 spot, Julia Mannisto and Shannon Williams put Carolina back on top with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Sara Rishell and Chelsi Carter.
To clinch the win for South Carolina, Tendrich and Reilly downed Michaela Reesor and Avery Hoven 21-9, 21-17 on the No. 3 court. Sarah Blomgren and Aubrey Ezell finished out the match with a 23-21, 21-16 victory over Tressa Buckland and Avei Logoleo at No. 2.
In the exhibition match, Lista Darby and Darian Dozier defeated Victoria Young and Rachel Evans 21-16, 21-15.
South Carolina earned its second sweep of the season with a 5-0 victory over Coastal Carolina.
The pairs at Nos. 4 and 5 put the Gamecocks up 2-0 with a pair of straight sets wins. Vitt and Wood won 21-10, 21-13 over Sara Boothe and Mika Mierzwa at No. 4, and Darby and Dozier followed up with a 21-8, 21-13 victory over Shelby Ladewig and Iva Mandic in the No. 5 spot.
Tendrich and Reilly clinched another win for Carolina when they gave up only 10 points total in a 21-5, 21-5 win over Annayka Legross and Carla Cahill on the No. 3 court.
Blomgren and Ezell defeated Tahleia Bishop and Aleksandra Bishop 21-18, 21-15 at No. 2. Mannisto and Williams won the first set, Natasa Savovic and Alise Petersone rallied to push a third set, but the Gamecocks pulled out the win with a 21-18, 19-21, 15-13 victory on the No. 1 court.
South Carolina will be back in action March 19-20 as they host the Gamecock Challenge at Wheeler Beach.
Dual Results
South Carolina 4, UAB 1
1: Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Sara Rishell/Chelsi Carter (UAB) 21-13, 21-19
2: Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Tressa Buckland/Avei Logoleo (UAB) 23-21, 21-16
3: Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Michaela Reesor/Avery Hoven (UAB) 21-9, 21-17
4: Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) def. Amber Treace/Zahria Richard (UAB) 21-16, 21-13
5: Gabbi Moreno/Emily Martinez (UAB) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Katie McCormick (SC) 19-21, 21-11,15-8
Exh.: Litsa Darby/Darian Dozier (SC) def. Victoria Young/Rachel Evans (UAB) 21-16, 21-15
South Carolina 5, Coastal Carolina 0
1: Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Natasa Savovic/Alise Petersone (CCU) 21-18, 19-21, 15-13
2: Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Tahleia Bishop/Aleksandra Djoric (CCU) 21-18, 21-15
3: Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Annayka Legross/Carla Cahill (CCU) 21-5, 21-5
4: Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) def. Sara Boothe/Mika Mierzwa (CCU) 21-10, 21-13
5: Litsa Darby/Darian Dozier (SC) def. Shelby Ladewig/Iva Mandic (CCU) 21-8, 21-13
