Beach Volleyball Splits Duals to Open Weekend Action
The team dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 12 FAU but rallied to upset #13 FIU
DELAND, FLA. – South Carolina beach volleyball opened its 2021 season on Saturday with a pair of nationally ranked opponents at the Stetson Spring Fling tournament. The Gamecocks (1-1) dropped a 3-2 decision to No. 12 FAU, but rallied back to take down No. 13 FIU in the afternoon. Morgyn Greer and Carly Schnieder, and Jess Vastine and Jordan Smith each went 2-0 for the day as pairs.
“First and foremost, to get to compete again is in and of itself an opportunity that we are all super grateful for,” head coach Moritz Moritz said. “I’m happy with how we improved and adjusted today. There was a lot of first tournament of the year, first tournament in 10 months, first college tournament ever jitters and it reflected in the amount of unforced errors we had. We were able to rally against FIU and play more composed. We never want to sacrifice being aggressive but it has to be with a measure of control and I think that’s the adjustment we started seeing from the first dual against FAU into the second that we ultimately won against FIU.”
In the morning match, the Gamecocks were able to gain an early advantage with pairs four, five leading off the action against the Owls. Greer and Schnieder put the team on the board first with a 21-19, 21-19 nail biter at the fifth flight, but South Carolina needed to rally after JVastine and Smith were edged out 21-19 in their opening set at number four. The duo roared back with a 21-11 win in set two and cruised to a 15-8 win in the third to push the team score to 2-0.
Florida Atlantic denied South Carolina the upset, though, earning sweeps on the top three pairings to come from behind in a 3-2 final. Katie Smith and Skylar Allen missed a chance at an opening-set win in the top flight, falling 22-20, and the Owls finished with convincing decisions on courts two and three.
In the afternoon dual against FIU, the storyline started almost identical to the FAU dual. Greer and Schnieder gutted out a 23-21 win in the first set and breezed to the sweep with a 21-9 score in set two. Vastine and Smith dropped the first set at the fourth flight, but picked up a 21-17 score to force a third and came through in the clutch again with a 15-12 final frame.
In the top three pairings, FIU claimed a three-set win at number two for its first point, but it would be the lone point for the Panthers. Madison Brabham and Hannah Mackenhausen won big in set one but dropped the second on court three. The duo clinched the team win and their first victory of the weekend with a 15-6 romp in set three to win the match. In the final matchup of the dual, Skylar Allen and Katie Smith put on an impressive show to sweep the top pairing, 21-18, 21-14. With that win, Smith notched her 26th career win against nationally ranked opponents, giving her sole possession of the program record for the category.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks are back for two more ranked opponents Sunday to close out the opening weekend. First up will be No. 15 TCU, who lost 3-2 to Stetson and a faced FIU in the evening. After that will be the host Hatters, who played FAU along with their win over TCU. First serve against the Frogs will be at noon, the Stetson dual will be at 4 p.m.
RESULTS
#12 FAU 3, #14 South Carolina 2
1. Erica Brok/Mackenzie Morris (FAU) def. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) 22-20, 21-17
2. Ellie Austin/Savannah Pesante (FAU) def. Alyssa Keller/Abby Carroll (SC) 21-17, 21-13
3. Kenley Adams/Jillenne Cangelosi (FAU) def. Madison Brabham/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) 21-14, 21-17
4. Jess Vastine/Jordan Smith (SC) def. Courtney Moon/Kaila Dorish (FAU) 19-21, 21-11, 15-8
5. Morgyn Greer/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Lily Richman/Maylin Bouffard (FAU) 21-19, 21-19
Ext. Logan Mignerey/Alivia Orvieto (FAU) def. Peyton Gray/Sophie Manson (SC) 21-18, 21-15
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,2,3,1*)
*-Deciding Point
#14 South Carolina 4, #13 FIU 1
1. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) def. FRASCA, Federica/ROBEIRO, Roberta (FIU) 21-18, 21-14
2. HUGHES, Abbie/KALKHOFF, Paige (FIU) def. Alyssa Keller/Abby Carroll (SC) 19-21, 21-11, 15-10
3. Madison Brabham/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. MANCINELLI, Raquelle/ERTELTOVA, Emma (FIU) 21-10, 18-21, 15-6
4. Jess Vastine/Jordan Smith (SC) def. BERNIER, Lina/LIPSCOMB, Gina (FIU) 16-21, 21-17, 15-12
5. Morgyn Greer/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. BRANDSTETTER, Sophia/BIANCHI, Giada (FIU) 23-21, 21-9
Ext. FORBES, Presley/ACOSTA CONLEY, Cecil (FIU) def. Kaeli Crews/Avery Davis (SC) 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,2,3,1)
