April 9, 2016

Siesta Key, Fla. — The South Carolina beach volleyball team defeated North Florida but fell to Florida Gulf Coast in dual play on the opening day of the Fiesta on Siesta Key, while a Gamecock trio won the Bronze bracket championship.

The Gamecocks opened the day with a rematch against North Florida. The two teams met earlier in the season and the Ospreys came out with a 4-1 victory. Carolina earned a 3-2 win over UNF today, with points coming from pairs at Nos. 2, 3 and 5. Sarah Blomgren and Aubrey Ezell clinched the win for South Carolina at the No. 2 spot.

Carolina later fell to Florida Gulf Coast 4-1 with the lone point coming from Katie Reilly and Macie Tendrich at No. 3. The pair went 2-0 on the day, improving their win streak to four.

In pairs play, freshmen Emma Lock, Anna Joy Baumann and Katie Cross combined to go 4-0 in the Bronze bracket and win the championship. The three split playing time, alternating different pairs for each match.

South Carolina will be back in action Sunday as they take on No. 9 Stetson and 9:30 a.m. and Florida Atlantic at 3 p.m.

Dual Results
South Carolina 3, North Florida 2
1. Megan Crawshaw/Jessalyn Kinlaw (UNF) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) 20-22, 21-13, 15-10
2. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) def. Kimberly Ferguson/Lauren Ford (UNF) 21-17, 21-16
3. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Courtney Miller/Katarina Raicevic (UNF) 21-19, 21-14
4. Chaney Howard/Ambre Desaulnay (UNF) def. Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) 21-18, 21-10
5. Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) def. Carina Hoff/Emily Davanzo (UNF) 21-19, 21-12

Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 1, 2

Florida Gulf Coast 4, South Carolina 1
1. Vanessa Benke/Eleonora Kararian (FGCU) def. Julia Mannisto/Shannon Williams (SC) 21-19, 17-21, 15-13
2. Mackenzie Allen/Amanda Carroll (FGCU) def. Sarah Blomgren/Aubrey Ezell (SC) 21-17, 21-16
3. Macie Tendrich/Katie Reilly (SC) def. Ashley Glickert/Karissa Rhoades (FGCU) 21-14, 21-15
4. Madi Wilcox/Elisa Anne Aldrich (FGCU) def. Jade Vitt/Delaney Wood (SC) 21-16, 21-16
5. Leigh Pudwill/Kathrine Puisis (FGCU) def. Erin Neuenfeldt/Lista Darby (SC) 21-19, 21-23, 15-13

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1