April 8, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the third consecutive year, the South Carolina beach volleyball team will compete in the Fiesta on Siesta Key tournament in Siesta Key, Fla.

There are 22 teams slated to compete in the event this weekend, including four other teams (FAU, FIU, FSU and UAB) from the CCSA conference. The tournament will feature dual play as well as pairs.

GAMECOCK SCHEDULE

SATURDAY
South Carolina vs. North Florida @ 9:30 a.m.
South Carolina vs. Florida Gulf Coast @ 1 p.m.

SUNDAY
South Carolina vs. Stetson @ 9:30 am.
South Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic @ 3 p.m.

SOUTH CAROLINA AT A GLANCE

• The Gamecocks are in their third season under the direction of head coach Moritz Moritz after going 14-7 in the program’s second season in 2015.
• 11 players from last year’s roster are back.
• Carolina currently has a roster size of 20 players.
• Three of the players on this year’s roster — Sarah Blomgren, Aubrey Ezell, Emma Lock — are crossover players from the Carolina indoor program.
• South Carolina boasts a diverse roster as it has players from 11 different states, including Texas, Virginia, California, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, New Jersey and Missouri.

A LOOK BACK AT THE SURF AND TURF CLASSIC

• The Gamecocks went 0-5 in Miami.
• South Carolina faced four opponents ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA poll. Carolina fell to No. 8 Georgia State (0-5), No. 10 FIU (3-2), No. 2 Southern Cal (0-5), Tulane (3-2) and No. 9 Stetson (3-2).
• Macie Tendrich and Katie Reilly posted the best record on the team for the tournament going 3-2 overall.

NORTH FLORIDA

• The Ospreys are in their fifth season and are under the direction of Samantha Dabbs.
• UNF enters the weekend with a 16-3 record overall and 8-1 in matches at a neutral site.
• North Florida currently holds a seven-match win streak.
• Courtney Miller and Katarina Raicevic were named the Atlantic Sun Conference Pair of the Week on March 22. The pair is 13-4 at the No. 3 spot.
• UNF leads the all-time series with Carolina 3-0. The Ospreys defeated the Gamecocks 4-1 when the two teams met in the Carolina Classic on March 20 this year.

FLORIDA GULF COAST

• The Eagles are in their fifth season and are under the direction of Matt Botsford.
• FGCU enters the weekend with a 6-5 mark overall.
• Florida Gulf Coast has won four out of its five previous matches.
• The Eagles are 10-1 at their No. 5 spot with Marlene Moeller and Caroline Jordan posting a 4-1 record and Madi Wilcox and Elisa Anne Aldrich going 6-0 as the No. 5 pairs.
• Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Florida Gulf Coast and South Carolina.

STETSON

• The Hatters are in their fifth season and are under the direction of Kristina Hernandez.
• SU enters the weekend ranked at No. 9 with a 20-6 record overall.
• Stetson went 2-2 in the Surf and Turf Classic after defeating South Carolina (3-2) and Tulane (3-2) but fell to Florida Atlantic (4-1) and Southern Cal (4-1).
• Jamie Walsh and Alexa Richardon were named the Atlantic Sun Conference Pair of the Week on April 5, marking Stetson’s fourth selection this season. The pair is 15-7 overall at the No. 5 spot.
• Last weekend’s matchup was the first ever meeting between the Hatters and the Gamecocks.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC

• The Owls are in their fifth season and under the direction of Capri Grotowski.
• FAU enters the weekend with a 9-10 mark overall.
• Florida Atlantic went 2-3 in the Surf and Turf Classic after defeating Stetson (4-1) and Tulane (3-2) but fell to Florida International (4-1), Georgia State (4-1) and Southern Cal (5-0).
• South Carolina leads the all time series with Florida Atlantic 3-0. The Gamecocks defeated the Owls 3-2 in the Carolina Classic on March 19 this year.