Beach Volleyball Splits Friday Doubleheader

BOCA RATON, FLA. – South Carolina Beach Volleyball split two Friday duals to open its weekend in the Burrow Beach Bash tournament, hosted by FAU. The Gamecocks lost to the host Owls (5-1), but defeated UAB (4-2) in the back end of the doubleheader to move to 2-4 for the season (1-3 CCSA). Shannon Williams and Cadie Bates were the lone unbeaten pair of Gamecocks, sweeping both matches in the number one position.
 
Struggles in three-set matches defined the team’s opening weekend in Tallahassee last time out, and it would haunt Carolina again on Friday. In the loss to the host Owls, the Gamecocks dropped three-set decisions at number two and number five, and Bates and Williams would be the team’s only winner for the dual. Of the 12 total sets played between the two conference rivals, five would be decided by two points.
 
With just a short break in the action, South Carolina took on UAB after the Blazers took No. 5 Florida State to the brink in the opening match of the tournament. The Gamecocks were able to cool them off for a 5-0 win, but had to earn it on each court. Lydia Dimke and Katie Smith at number two and Franky Harrison and Carly Schnieder at number three went the distance but were able to win comfortably in their third sets. 
 
The competition only gets tougher on Saturday, when the team faces No. 4 LSU and No. 5 Florida State to cap the weekend. First serve against the Tigers will be at 8 a.m. ET, and a tentative noon start for the dual with the Seminoles.
 
RESULTS
#18 FAU 4, #10 South Carolina 1 
1. Shannon Williams/Cadie Bates (SC) def. Nicole Navarro/Carly Scarborough (FAU) 21-19, 23-21
2. Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Katie Smith/Lydia Dimke (SC) 22-20, 13-21, 20-18
3. Amanda Silva/Nicole Grant (FAU) def. Franky Harrison/Carly Schnieder (SC) 21-9, 21-12
4. Kaila Dorish/Savannah Pesante (FAU) def. Avery Davis/Caroline Skaff (SC) 21-15, 21-10
5. Jillenne Cangelosi/Megan Mcgrath (FAU) def. Jess Vastine/Hannah Edelman (SC) 23-25, 21-17, 15-10
Ext. Lauryn Gillis/Whitley Ballard (SC) def. Bailey Myott/Kristi Tekavec (FAU) 24-22, 21-12
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,3,1,2)
 
#10 South Carolina 5, UAB 0
1. Bates/ Williams (SC) def. Kenley Adams/SalliAnne Napolitano (UAB) 21-19, 22-20
2. Smith/ Dimke (SC) def. Jayme Bratsberg/Jaelyn Keene (UAB) 23-25, 21-15, 15-10
3. Schnieder/ Harrison (SC) def. Tressa Buckland/Annie Pringle (UAB) 19-21, 21-16, 15-7
4. Vastine/ Edelman (SC) def. Brittney Munro/Emily Martinez (UAB) 21-9, 21-12
5. Davis/Skaff (SC) def. Jenna Gathright/Emma Andraka (UAB) 24-22, 21-19
Ext. Whitley Ballard/Lauryn Gillis (SC) def. Ashlee Stansel/Brooke Stansel (UAB) 22-20, 21-19
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,1,3,2)