Beach Volleyball Splits First Day of Action in Tallahassee
The Gamecocks fell to No. 7 Cal Poly but beat Houston Baptist
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – South Carolina beach volleyball split its opening day of duals on Saturday at the Seminole Beach Bash, hosted by Florida State. The 13th-ranked Gamecocks lost a tight 4-1 decision to No. 7 Cal Poly in the morning, but rebounded to grind out a 3-2 win against Houston Baptist. Hannah Edelman and Madison Brabham finished the day with two sweeps in their first action as a pair.
In the morning, South Carolina had its chances but were edged out in a trio of three-set decisions that would be the difference. The two teams split the first two decisions, Cal Poly swept the number one pairing but Brabham and Edelman answered quickly with a 21-18, 21-16 win on court five. The Gamecocks appeared to find even more momentum after getting first set wins at the 2s and 3s, but Cal Poly quickly answered with convincing decisions in the final two sets to pull out wins. Jordan Smith and Morgyn Greer were able to overcome a first-set loss at the 4s, winning set two 21-18, but the Mustangs took the third set to win the match and clinch the overall team win.
After an hour of rest, the team was back at it and were caught up in a battle with Houston Baptist. The Gamecocks got some breathing room early with dominating performances from Franky Harrison and Avery Davis at the 3s (21-12, 21-13) and Brabham and Edelman (21-5, 21-19). The Huskies pushed back and forced third sets on courts one, two and five. Greer and Smith rallied to clinch the team win with a 19-21, 21-18, 15-12 score, the first career win for Greer and Smith’s second win ever in the lineup. Greer, a graduate transfer from the Florida indoor program, clinched the final point with a big block. The Huskies closed the dual with three-set wins at the first two courts.
The Gamecocks have two matches against nationally ranked conference opponents on Sunday to end the first weekend of the season. Up first is an 11:45 a.m. first serve against No. 16 TCU, followed by a 3:30 p.m. match against the host Seminoles, ranked second in the country.
RESULTS
#7 Cal Poly 4, #13 South Carolina 1
1. Torrey Van Winden/Macy Gordon (CP) def. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) 21-12, 21-19
2. Mariah Whalen/Tia Miric (CP) def. Jess Vastine/Carly Schnieder (SC) 10-21, 21-13, 15-5
3. Emily Sonny/Jayelin Lombard (CP) def. Franky Harrison/Avery Davis (SC) 21-23, 21-14, 15-9
4. Adlee Van Winden/Josie Ulrich (CP) def. Morgyn Greer/Jordan Smith (SC) 21-14, 18-21, 15-8
5. Madison Brabham/Hannah Edelman (SC) def. Vanessa Roscoe/Brayden Gruenewald (CP) 21-18, 21-16
Order of finish: Doubles (1,5,2,4*,3)
#13 South Carolina 3, HBU 2
1. Tori Hinojosa/Danielle Okeke (HBU) def. Jess Vastine/Carly Schnieder (SC) 24-22, 22-24, 15-13
2. Natalie Bennett/Elsa Descamps (HBU) def. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) 31-33, 24-22, 15-13
3. Franky Harrison/Avery Davis (SC) def. Kylie Bryan/Danielle Wheeler (HBU) 21-12, 21-13
4. Madison Brabham/Hannah Edelman (SC) def. Lauren Huggins/Maddie Butters (HBU) 21-5, 21-19
5. Morgyn Greer/Jordan Smith (SC) def. Brennan Miller/Amy Underdown (HBU) 19-21, 21-18, 15-12
Order of finish: Doubles (3,4,5*,1,2)
