South Carolina Starts Home Weekend With Two Wins
The Gamecocks beat Mercer and Southern Miss on Saturday
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock beach volleyball (7-3, 4-2 CCSA) won both Saturday duals in the return to Wheeler Beach. Day one of the Carolina Challenge was highlighted by a 5-0 sweep of Mercer and a 4-1 win over conference rival Southern Miss.
In the morning opener against Mercer, the team debuted four new pairings with Alyssa Keller and Skylar Allen trading positions at one and two, respectively, and Jordan Smith and Hannah Mackenhausen swapping positions at numbers three and four. Despite the shake-up, it was business as usual for the Gamecocks, rolling to sweeps on all five courts.
Closing out the day against the Golden Eagles, the lineup had one more change when Jordan Smith moved up to number two with Allen and Abby Carroll moved to number three with Madison Brabham. Allen and Smith made quick work at number two, allowing just 19 total points in a 21-12, 21-7 sweep that opened the team scoring. Sweeps at three and five clinched the team win, and Jess Vastine and Mackenhausen rallied for a three-set win on court four for the final point.
UP NEXT
The weekend road tournament ends with duals against Jacksonville and Coastal Carolina on Sunday. Matches will be at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Home tournaments will have a reduced seating capacity that does not allow for general admission this spring. Attendance will be limited to players, staff and family for South Carolina and visiting teams.
RESULTS
#16 South Carolina 5, Mercer 0
1. Alyssa Keller/Katie Smith (SC) def. Elli Merchant/Olivia Boeve (MER) 21-19, 21-14
2. Skylar Allen/Abby Carroll (SC) def. Gracie Garanich/Emilee Wissmach (MER) 21-14, 21-16
3. Madison Brabham/Jordan Smith (SC) def. Kacy Ogden/Maddie Nunley (MER) 21-16, 21-10
4. Jess Vastine/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Emily Leonard/Elena Sanfrey (MER) 21-13, 21-10
5. Morgyn Greer/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Hana Robertson/Ellie Miller (MER) 21-13, 21-12
Order of finish: Doubles (3,5,4*,1,2)
*-Deciding Point
#16 South Carolina 4, Southern Miss 1
1. Kylie Grandy/Abbey Wilson (USM) def. Alyssa Keller/Katie Smith (SC) 21-16, 18-21, 15-12
2. Skylar Allen/Jordan Smith (SC) def. Breleigh Favre/Olivia Hepworth (USM) 21-12, 21-7
3. Madison Brabham/Abby Carroll (SC) def. Hallie Phelan/Haley Hop (USM) 21-13, 21-10
4. Jess Vastine/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Valeria S. Papakyria/Kai Norman (USM) 21-9, 16-21, 15-8
5. Morgyn Greer/Carly Schnieder (SC) def. Kaylie Beck/Melanie Miller (USM) 21-14, 21-14
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,5*,4,1)
