Gamecocks Defeat No. 13 FIU, No. 14 FAU to Open Weekend Tournament

April 7, 2017

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1: Adrianna Culbert/Katie Smith (SC) def. Margherita Bianchin/Frederica Frasca (FIU) 21-19, 21-17

2: Shannon Williams/Ali Denney (SC) def. Kari Peterson/Taija Thomas (FIU) 21-12, 21-13

3: Katie Zimmerman/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Katie Hogan/Helene Thelle (FIU) 21-18, 21-11

4: Julia Mannisto/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Anabela Sataric/Estefanie Bethancourt (FIU) 18-21, 22-20, 15-9

5: Jade Vitt/Franky Harrison (SC) def. Lina Bernier/Natalia Giron (FIU) 21-17, 21-16

Ex: Dorina Klinger/Katie Friesen (FIU) def. AJ Baumann/Hannah Edelman (SC) 21-17, 21-15

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

1: Culbert/Smith (SC) def. Rice,Megan/Kinlaw,Jessalyn (FAU) 21-17, 16-21, 15-12

2: Williams/Denney (SC) def. Dischler,Gabrielle/Lacour,Candace (FAU) 21-17, 21-17

3: Zimmerman/ Tendrich (SC) def. Grant,Nicole/Navarro,Nicole (FAU) 19-21, 21-15, 15-11

4: Barker,Jazmine/Pellitteri,Brittany (FAU) def. Mannisto/Schnieder (SC) 14-21, 21-12, 17-15

5: Vitt/Harrison (SC) def. Lewkowicz,Julia/Cunningham,Ashlan (FAU) 21-19, 24-22

Ex: Scarborough,Carly/Gott,Sam (FAU) def. Edelman/Baumann (SC) 16-21, 21-15, 15-10

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

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – South Carolina’s beach volleyball program collected two wins over ranked opponents on Friday to begin the Staybridge Suites Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla. The Gamecocks (17-5, 8-3 CCSA) swept No. 13 FIU 5-0, and won a hard-fought 4-1 decision over No. 14 FAU to push their win streak up to six matches.

The team came out locked-in for the morning session, facing a FIU team out for revenge after losing to Carolina in the season opener, 3-2. The first wave of matches panned out well for the Gamecocks, as Franky Harrison and Jade Vitt swept their match at the fifth flight for a quick 1-0 lead. Carly Schnieder and Julia Mannisto had to work back from a one-set deficit in their match at the fours, but ended up with an 18-21, 22-20, 15-9 decision to give the team a big momentum boost going into the final three matches.

Shannon Williams and Ali Denney rolled through their match at the number two position to clinch the dual win quickly, taking home a 21-12, 21-13 win. Katie Zimmerman and Macie Tendrich followed close behind with a straight set, 21-18, 21-11 win at the threes. Clinching the sweep were Adrianna Culbert and Katie Smith at the top pairing. They won 21-19, 21-17 against the defending CCSA Pair of the Week, Margherita Bianchin and Frederica Frasca, to give the team its first-ever 5-0 win against a ranked opponent.

In the second match of the day, South Carolina found itself in another dogfight with conference rival FAU. A year removed from two separate 3-2 wins, it appeared Friday would see an equally tight result. Vitt and Harrison were able to get the first point of the dual with a 21-19, 24-22 win at the fives, but the Owls took the fours pairing for a 1-1 dual heading into the second wave.

Williams and Denney gave the Gamecocks a big lift thanks to another straight-set decision at the twos, 21-17, 21-17, but FAU pushed the final two matches to a third set. Zimmerman and Tendrich were in an early hole in the threes after losing the first set, 21-19, but rallied to force a third set thanks to a 21-15 win. The two kept their momentum in the decisive set, and clinched the team win with a 15-11 win in the third. Culbert and Smith put the exclamation point on the dual with a three-set win in the top flight against a FAU pair that came into the weekend with an 18-3 overall record.

Notable

With two wins Friday, Macie Tendrich and Katie Zimmerman became the first pair in South Carolina history to win 30 career matches as a team. The two won 26 matches in 2016, and are currently 5-0 this season.
Friday was also the first time in school history that the team won two matches against ranked opponents in one tournament, let alone one day. The program now has five wins against AVCA Top 15 teams ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢’Â¬” four this season alone.
After beating FIU, Schnieder and Mannisto now have 17 dual wins as a pair this season. That is now fourth-most for a single season in program history.
Macie Tendrich went over 60 career dual wins after defeating FIU. Jade Vitt earned her 60th overall win (pair play and dual) in the afternoon match with FAU.

Up Next

The Gamecocks have two matches tomorrow to close out the tournament. First is a morning match with host Florida State. In the afternoon session, the team will match up with Georgia State.