Two More Sweeps Close Beach Volleyball’s Weekend in Wilmington

April 3, 2017

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1: Culbert/Smith def. CofC, 21-15, 21-10

2: Denney/Williams def. CofC, 21-19, 19-21, 15-6,

3: Tendrich/Zimmerman def. CofC, 21-13, 19-21, 15-12

4: Mannisto/Schnieder def. CofC, 21-11, 21-16

5: Harrison/Vitt def. CofC, 21-16, 19-21, 15-11

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

1: Culbert/Smith def. UNCW, 21-16, 21-18

2: Denney/Williams def. UNCW, 21-13, 19-21, 15-11

3: Tendrich/Zimmerman def. UNCW, 21-8, 21-18

4: Mannisto/Schnieder def. UNCW, 21-18, 21-16

5: Harrison/Vitt def. UNCW, 21-9, 21-16

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

WILMINGTON, N.C. – South Carolina’s beach volleyball team closed out its weekend at the UNC Wilmington Beach Bash tournament Sunday, picking up 5-0 wins against conference rivals. The Gamecocks won a hard-fought decision with College of Charleston (8-4) in the morning session, then downed the host Seahawks (10-6) right after to run their overall record to 15-5 this season (6-3 in the CCSA).

As a team, South Carolina lost just four sets all weekend. This came despite playing with a lineup that was almost completely different than it put out last weekend at the Gamecock Grand Slam.

Against Charleston, the Gamecocks were able to pull out three matches in three sets to get the win over the Cougars. Jade Vitt and Franky Harrison put the team ahead 2-0 after winning in three at the fives pair, and Adrianna Culbert and Katie Smith were able to clinch the match soon after with a sweep in the ones pair.

Macie Tendrich and Katie Zimmerman continued to rediscover the chemistry that earned them 26 wins as a pair in 2016, as the two pulled out a win in three sets at the three pair. Ali Denney and Shannon capped the 5-0 sweep after outlasting Charleston with a 21-19, 19-21, 15-6 win.

The team faced first-year conference rival UNC Wilmington to close the weekend. Sweeps at the three, four and five flights clinched a quick win for the team, with Tendrich and Zimmerman’s 21-8, 21-18 win at the threes sealing the undefeated weekend. Denney and Williams grinded out a three-set win at the twos, 21-13, 19-21, 15-11, and Culbert/Smith went 21-16, 21-18 as the top pair.

Two South Carolina pairs were also competing in a separate tournament during the weekend. Delaney Wood and Sarah Nacouzi, and Hannah Sorensen and Hannah Edelman represented the Gamecocks for the pairs tournament, and the teammates found themselves on either side of the net in the finale. Sorensen and Edelman prevailed for the championship.

Up Next

One final road weekend awaits the team, and it will be a challenging one. South Carolina travels to Tallahassee for the Staybridge Suites Invitational, hosted by No. 4 Florida State. Over the two days, the Gamecocks are scheduled to face four opponents currently ranked in the AVCA Top 15 ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢’Â¬” Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State and Florida State. The tournament runs Friday to Saturday.