Gamecocks Roll Through Saturday Doubleheader

CONWAY, S.C. – South Carolina went 2-0 in duals on Saturday, with 5-0 wins over Coastal Carolina (6-3) and UNCW (1-3) out in Conway, S.C. The Gamecocks move to .500 for the season at 5-5, and the win over UNCW improves their conference record to 3-4. The team did not lose a single set on the day, and saw first-year members Whitley Ballard and Lauryn Gillis earn their first career wins in the starting lineup.
 
In the opening dual against the Chanticleers, South Carolina jumped on their hosts early and only allowed more than 15 points to be scored on them in a set twice across the five pairs. Ballard moved into the fifth pairing with Caroline Skaff and won 21-11, 21-17 to give the freshman her first win as a Gamecock. Lydia Dimke and Katie Smith enjoyed the most efficient win of the dual, yielding just 19 points total in a 21-9, 21-10 sweep at number two.
 
A back-to-back schedule left Carolina with a quick turnaround before facing conference rival UNCW, but the Gamecocks kept the momentum rolling. Sweeps at courts two and four gave the team a 2-0 lead after the opening wave, and Ballard and Gillis teamed up for the dual-clinching point with a 21-13, 21-12 win at the fives to earn Gillis her first win as a starter. The Seahawks would push with tight sets at the first and third pairings, but Franky Harrison and Carly Schnieder locked down the sweep of the threes (21-19, 22-20) and Cadie Bates and Shannon Williams rallied to win their top-flight match in straight sets as well (21-19, 22-20).
 
The team will use the university’s spring break to take a mid-week trip to Atlanta for its next event. South Carolina will face No. 2 Southern California and Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday, March 12 as part of the Georgia State Day of Duals tournament. First serve against the Women of Troy will be at 10 a.m. ET, and the dual with FGCU will start around 3 p.m.
 
RESULTS
#10 South Carolina 5, Coastal Carolina 0
1. Cadie Bates/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Alvis, Sydney/Hardeman, Leah (CCU) 21-15, 21-17
2. Lydia Dimke/Katie Smith (SC) def. Ladewig, Shelby/Djuric, Aleksandra (CCU) 21-9, 21-10
3. Franky Harrison/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Campbell, Lucy/Boyer, Anaiah (CCU) 21-14, 21-13
4. Jess Vastine/Hannah Edelman (SC) def. Federico, Kate/Gauthier, Tanner (CCU) 21-9, 21-15
5. Caroline Skaff/Whitley Ballard (SC) def. Nemeth, Anett/Eske, Kaylin (CCU) 21-11, 21-17
Order of finish: 2,4,3*,5,1
 
#10 South Carolina 5, UNCW 0
1. Cadie Bates/Shannon Williams (SC) def. Maddy Kline/Jaime Thomas (UNCW) 21-19, 22-20
2. Lydia Dimke/Katie Smith (SC) def. Raquel Rooney/Brynn Montgomery (UNCW) 21-14, 21-10
3. Franky Harrison/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Halle Hunt/Lexie Hamilton (UNCW) 21-19, 22-20
4. Jess Vastine/Hannah Edelman (SC) def. Katie McCullough/Kyla Augustine (UNCW) 21-11, 21-19
5. Lauryn Gillis/Whitley Ballard (SC) def. Reagan Evans/JM Lewandowski (UNCW) 21-13, 21-12
Order of finish: 2,4,5*,3,1