Gamecocks Drop a Pair to Open Weekend of Home Duals

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock beach volleyball (13-6, 5-4 CCSA) fell in a pair of tight contests Saturday in the opening day of their Gamecock Grand Slam tournament. South Carolina fell 4-1 to No. 9 TCU (16-3) in the morning, then lost a heartbreaker in the afternoon with a 3-2 loss to No. 16 Stetson (13-7).
 
The team opened the weekend with a rematch with No. 9 TCU, a team that beat the Gamecocks 3-2 in the opening weekend of the season. South Carolina had its opportunities but was unable to get revenge as the Horned Frogs took a 4-1 decision. The dual marked the first career start for sophomore Sophie Manson, who teamed with Carly Schnieder at the fifth flight. Madison Brabham and Avery Davis accounted for the team’s lone point, gutting out a 19-21, 21-13, 15-10 win at number four. Junior Jordan Smith suffered her first loss of the season, losing in three sets at number two with her sister Katie. It snapped Jordan’s program-record individual win streak of 17 matches in a row.
 
In the closing dual of the day, the Gamecocks squared off with Stetson for the third time this spring. The two sides already traded off 3-2 decisions in the first meetings, so with the season series on the line the dual was an instant classic. South Carolina won the first set on four of the five courts, but Stetson responded by forcing a third set with rallies at one, two and five. Jess Vastine and Jordan Smith battled back from a first-set loss at number three to force a fourth court to three. They would complete the comeback with a 16-14 score in the third set, but Stetson countered with wins in the third set at one, two and five to clinch the team victory.
 
UP NEXT
The weekend gets no easier for the Gamecocks, Sunday features conference duals against No. 2 Florida State (19-0) and No. 17 Georgia State (14-8). The action begins for South Carolina at 1 p.m. against the Seminoles, followed by a 5 p.m. match with the Panthers.
 
RESULTS
No. 9 TCU 4, No. 15 South Carolina 1
1. Danela Alvarez/Tania Moreno Mateeva (TCU) def. Skylar Allen/Alyssa Keller (SC) 21-19, 21-16
2. Hailey Brockett/Olivia Blackburn (TCU) def. Jordan Smith/Katie Smith (SC) 21-18, 13-21, 15-13
3. Maria Gonzalez/Rochelle Scott (TCU) def. Jess Vastine/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) 21-17, 21-14
4. Madison Brabham/Avery Davis (SC) def. Tara Patton/Trinity Cavanaugh (TCU) 19-21, 21-13, 15-10
5. Jordan Westendorff/Caroline White (TCU) def. Sophie Manson/Carly Schnieder (SC) 21-18, 21-17
Order of finish: 3,1,5*,4,2
*-Deciding Point
 
No. 16 Stetson 3, No. 15 South Carolina 2
1. Ana Costa/Carly Perales (STET) def. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) 19-21, 21-19, 15-13
2. Shae Henson/Kamryn Johnson (STET) def. Hannah Mackenhausen/Alyssa Keller (SC) 19-21, 21-14, 15-13
3. Jordan Smith/Jess Vastine (SC) def. Gabriella Bramante/Yasmin Kuck (STET) 19-21, 21-19, 16-14
4. Avery Davis/Madison Brabham (SC) def. Noelle Weintraub/Brittany McLean (STET) 21-8, 21-18
5. Aleksandra Stadnik/Madison Bobes (STET) def. Carly Schnieder/Morgyn Greer (SC) 17-21, 21-19, 15-12
Order of finish: 4,5,2,3,1*