Gamecocks Sweep the Competition on Day One of Weekend Tournament
The team did not drop a single set in wins over UNCW and Coastal Carolina
CONWAY, S.C. – It was a flawless first day of action at the Coastal Carolina Invitation Friday afternoon for South Carolina beach volleyball. The Gamecocks (4-2, 2-2 CCSA) did not drop a single set on the way to a pair of 5-0 victories. In the morning, the team swept UNCW (1-4), then returned in the afternoon to sweep the host Chanticleers (0-2).
The opening dual with the Seahawks was the team’s most decisive victory to date in this young spring season. South Carolina did not let UNCW score more than 17 points in any set across all five court and cruised to the win with Skylar Allen and Katie Smith clinching the win with a 21-13, 21-10 win at the first pairing. Madison Brabham and Hannah Mackenhausen had perhaps the stingiest performance of the dual, allowing just 21 points total to UNCW in the third flight.
Ending the day was a dual with the Chanticleers, who opened their weekend by nearly upsetting No. 16 Stetson in the morning session, losing 3-2 after building an early 2-0 lead on the Hatters. South Carolina was able to curb any hope for momentum early, as the fours pairing of Jordan Smith and Jess Vastine and the fives pair of Morgyn Greer and Carly Schnieder swept their matches. For Smith and Vastine, they remain undefeated for the year. The Chanticleers did grab first set leads on courts one and two, but the Gamecocks denied them the early advantage. Both Allen and Smith and Alyssa Keller and Abby Carroll on court two came back for 23-21 wins in the opening set and then cliched sweeps with comfortable set two margins.
“The transition from last weekend to this one was all about what can we control and what can we learn about ourselves when we’re challenged in new and different ways,” head coach Moritz Moritz said. “Today was almost the polar opposite of last weekend. We went from hot Florida weather to wind and cold here, but we learned that if we show up dialed in and communicating we can be really good. If we dwell on mistakes, we only make life more difficult for ourselves.
Every opportunity we have to practice and play with our pairs is valuable, we’re fine-tuning the things we do well and worrying less about who we’re facing across the net,” he continued. “Of course, that will change as the season progresses and teams learn more about each other, but right now I think we’re doing a good job of developing that chemistry you need as a pair and as a whole team.”
UP NEXT
Tomorrow brings two challenging matchups for the Gamecocks, starting with an 8 a.m. rematch with No. 16 Stetson. The two rivals met last weekend, with South Carolina coming out with a 3-2 upset of the then-11th-ranked Hatters on Stetson’s home sand. In the afternoon, the Gamecocks face conference and in-state rival College of Charleston at 2 p.m.
RESULTS
#13 South Carolina 5, UNCW 0
1. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) def. Casey Goodwin/JM Lewandowski (UNCW) 21-13, 21-10
2. Alyssa Keller/Abby Carroll (SC) def. Rachel Shaffer/Elena Turnbull (UNCW) 21-15, 21-17
3. Madison Brabham/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Mya Duggan/Reagan Evans (UNCW) 21-11, 21-10
4. Jordan Smith/Jess Vastine (SC) def. Ellie Bucci/Tyla Cutrie (UNCW) 21-10, 21-12
5. Morgyn Greer/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Chrissy Ausgustine/Kristy Witte (UNCW) 21-17, 21-12
Ext. Sophie Manson/Peyton Gray (SC) def. Bayla Cutrie/Sabrina Reznik (UNCW) 21-8, 21-12
Order of finish: Doubles (4,5,1*,3,2)
#13 South Carolina 5, Coastal Carolina 0
1. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) def. Svobodova, Sarlota/Drobnjak, Irena (CCU) 23-21, 21-14
2. Alyssa Keller/Abby Carroll (SC) def. Campbell, Lucy/Kragholm, Martine (CCU) 23-21, 21-16
3. Madison Brabham/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Riedell, Sarah/Hanford, Ellie (CCU) 21-12, 21-13
4. Jordan Smith/Jess Vastine (SC) def. Ginther, Carli/Gonzalez, Emma (CCU) 21-13, 21-12
5. Carly Schnieder/Morgyn Greer (SC) def. Lukacs, Kendra/Eske, Kalin (CCU) 21-13, 21-19
Ext. Kaeli Crews/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) def. Dunnigan, Ashton/Sanchez, Elena (CCU) 21-18, 21-8
Order of finish: Doubles (5,4,3*,2,1)
*-Deciding Point
