Beach Volleyball Sweeps Opening Matches in the UNCW Beach Bash

April 1, 2017

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1: Culbert/Smith def. CCU, 21-11, 21-11

2: Denney/Zimmerman def. CCU, 21-18, 21-11,

3: Tendrich/Williams def. CCU, 21-13, 21-14

4: Mannisto/Schnieder def. CCU, 21-8, 21-8

5: Harrison/Edelman def. CCU, 21-8, 21-8

Ex: Skaff/Baumann def. CCU, 21-14, 21-18

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

1: Culbert/Smith def. MERCER, 21-18, 21-9

2: Denney/Williams def. MERCER, 21-16, 21-18

3: Tendrich/Zimmerman def. MERCER, 21-13, 21-12

4: Mannisto/Schnieder def. MERCER, 21-13, 21-7

5: Harrison/Vitt def. MERCER, 21-10, 21-14

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

WILMINGTON, N.C. – The South Carolina beach volleyball team returned to its winning ways on Saturday, not dropping a single set over two wins at the UNCW Beach Bash. The Gamecocks beat Coastal Carolina (0-6) 5-0 in the morning, then returned to sweep Mercer (10-6) 5-0 later in the afternoon. The team is now 13-5 this season.

A new lineup made its debut in the morning, with new pairs at the one, two and five flights, and a flip-flopping of the threes and fours. The changes paid dividends with convincing results, as the Gamecocks rolled through Coastal Carolina. Adrianna Culbert and Katie Smith won 21-11, 21-11 against a Chanticleer pair that won at the ones flight in the two teams’ March 14 match.

Ali Denney and Katie Zimmerman locked down the twos pairing with a 21-18, 21-11 win, and another new duo in Franky Harrison and Hannah Edelman went 21-8, 21-8 at the five spot for another big win.

More changes to the lineup awaited the team in the matchup with Mercer. Shannon Williams moved up to the twos flight to join forces with Denney, and Zimmerman moved down to three and paired with Macie Tendrich. Again, the Gamecocks showed their versatility and rolled the Bears.

Culbert and Smith exorcised some past losses after downing Mercer’s top pair of Tori Penrod and Emily Krogman in straight sets, 21-18, 21-9. Denney and Williams won 21-16, 21-18, and Tendrich and Zimmerman rekindled their success from a 26-win 2016 season with a 21-13, 21-12 win at the threes.

Up Next

Two more duals await the team Sunday. First is a 9 a.m. match against conference rival College of Charleston. Closing out the weekend is a noon match against the host Seahawks.