Gamecocks Drop Matches to No. 4 Florida State, No. 10 Georgia State

April 8, 2017

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1: Leigh Andrew/Brooke Kuhlman (FSU) def. Adrianna Culbert/Katie Smith (SC) 21-12, 14-21, 15-11

2: Vanessa Freire/Francesca Goncalves (FSU) def. Shannon Williams/Ali Denney (SC) 33-31, 21-14

3: Macy Jerger/Victoria Paranagua (FSU) def. Katie Zimmerman/Macie Tendrich (SC) 21-18, 21-12

4: Katie Horton/Nikki Esposito (FSU) def. Julia Mannisto/Carly Schnieder (SC) 21-18, 14-21, 15-12

5: Hailey Luke/Eva Torruella (FSU) def. Jade Vitt/Franky Harrison (SC) 17-21, 21-16, 15-11

Ex: Ali Eager/Breana Edwards (FSU) def. AJ Baumann/Hannah Edelman (SC) 15-21, 21-15, 16-14

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

1: Adrianna Culbert/Katie Smith (SC) def. Chelsea Ross/Delaney Rohan (GSU) 22-20, 21-15

2: Haley Pa’akaula/Jessica Fourspring (GSU) def. Shannon Williams/Ali Denney (SC) 15-21, 21-14, 15-11

3: Katie Zimmerman/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Natalie Wilson/Brooke Weiner (GSU) 19-21, 21-13, 15-10

4: Amie Held/Kate Novack (GSU) def. Julia Mannisto/Carly Schnieder (SC) 21-15, 21-11

5: Georgia Johnson/Olivia Stasevich (GSU) def. Jade Vitt/Franky Harrison (SC) 13-21, 21-16, 15-10

Ex: AJ Baumann/Hannah Edelman (SC) def. Allie Elson/Ashley McGinn (GSU) 21-19, 18-21, 15-12

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

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – The 11th-ranked Gamecock beach volleyball team dropped a pair of close matches to top-10 opponents Saturday afternoon, wrapping up the weekend at the Staybridge Suites Invitational at Florida State. South Carolina (17-7, 8-5 CCSA) lost 5-0 to No. 4 Florida State and 3-2 to No. 10 Georgia State.

In a matchup reminiscent of the two teams’ first meeting on March 26, the matches were close throughout but the Seminoles were able to capitalize on a pair of three-set decisions in the opening wave to take the momentum early. Julia Mannisto and Carly Schnieder dropped their match at the fours in three, 21-18, 14-21, 15-12, and Franky Harrison and Jade Vitt also were edged in a match that went the distance — 17-21, 21-16, 15-11.

Florida State clinched the overall team win with a sweep in the threes, 21-18, 21-12. It then took the twos in a sweep as well and capped the dual with yet another three-set win at the top flight. Brooke Kuhlman and Leigh Andrew edged out Adrianna Culbert and Katie Smith, 21-12, 14-21, 15-11.

Against the Panthers, South Carolina dug itself a hole early after dropping both of the first-wave matches — including a three-set decision in the fives pairing.

Needing to sweep the final three matches, the team got an early boost from Culbert and Smith, who rallied from the morning loss to sweep Georgia State’s Chelsea Ross and Delaney Rohan, 22-20, 21-15. The attention then turned to courts one and three, where both of the final matches needed for the comeback were deep into the third set.

The Panthers were able to get their one final win to clinch it, taking the second flight with a 15-21, 21-14, 15-11 win over Shannon Williams and Ali Denney. The loss came just a few minutes before Katie Zimmerman and Macie Tendrich completed their comeback in the threes, winning 19-21, 21-13, 15-10 to make it a 3-2 final score.

Up Next

The team has one more weekend of duals left in the regular season. The Palmetto Invitational will run April 14-15 at Wheeler Beach. The Gamecocks play host to UNC-Wilmington, Tulane, Jacksonville State and College of Charleston. The 6 p.m. Friday dual with Tulane will also be South Carolina’s Senior Night, where the program’s seven seniors will be honored.