Ranked Win Highlights Final Day of Gamecock Grand Slam
The Gamecocks fell to No. 2 Florida State but rallied to beat No. 17 Georgia State
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock beach volleyball (14-7, 6-5 CCSA) split the final day of their Gamecock Grand Slam tournament, losing 4-1 to Florida State before rallying back for a thrilling 3-2 win over Georgia State.
In the Sunday opener, the Seminoles claimed the opening set on the top four courts, but Morgyn Greer and Carly Schnieder were able to take a 21-19 win in the first set at number five. The Gamecocks battled hard in the second set across all five courts, but fell behind 3-0 after sweeps at flights two, three and four. Katie Smith and Skylar Allen rallied for a 21-18 win in the second set to push their match at number one to a third, but lost. Greer and Schnieder played well beyond 21 to get their victory, finally pulling out a 27-25 final score to sweep their match and secure the team’s lone point.
Wrapping up the weekend was a dual with Georgia State (15-9), but not until after a lengthy wait from a severe storm sweeping through the area. After an hour’s wait, the two sides got rolling with the rain still falling on Wheeler Beach. The Gamecocks saw a solid opening set from Smith and Allen on the top court, winning 21-10, but Georgia State held early momentum after taking the opening set on three courts. Alyssa Keller and Hannah Mackenhausen secured a key comeback to win their first set on court three, 22-20, a decision that proved to be vital for the final result.
Only one court made it to a third set, as Georgia State won at flights two and five while the Gamecocks countered with sweeps for Smith/Allen and Keller/Mackenhausen. The dual came down to court four, where Jess Vastine and Jordan Smith overcame a 21-17 loss in the opening set to win 21-19 and force a third set to decide it all. It was neck-and-neck in the third, but the Gamecocks broke away from a 8-8 tie to spark their final push to 15 points. After switching sides ahead 11-9, Vastine and Smith rolled to the finish line with four of the next five points for the clinching 15-10 final set score.
UP NEXT
The team has a bye week coming up for Easter weekend. Its next weekend of competition will be at the Georgia State Diggin’ Duals tournament April 9-10. South Carolina faces conference rivals, starting with UAB and Southern Miss on Friday, April 9 and then a rematch with host Georgia State on Saturday.
RESULTS
No. 2 Florida State 4, No. 15 South Carolina 1
1. Molly McBain/Alaina Chacon (FS) def. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) 21-15, 18-21, 15-4
2. Maddie Anderson/Sara Putt (FS) def. Hannah Mackenhausen/Alyssa Keller (SC) 21-15, 21-18
3. Madison Fitzpatrick/Payton Caffrey (FS) def. Avery Davis/Madison Brabham (SC) 21-14, 21-18
4. Kate Privett/Jenna Johnson (FS) def. Jordan Smith/Jess Vastine (SC) 21-10, 21-17
5. Carly Schnieder/Morgyn Greer (SC) def. Caitlin Moon/Avery Poppinga (FS) 21-19, 27-25
Order of finish: 4,3,2*,5,1
*-Deciding Point
No. 15 South Carolina 3, No. 17 Georgia State 2
1. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) def. Maddy Delmonte/Eden Hawes (GSU) 21-10, 21-19
2. Kelly Dorn/Kate Novack (GSU) def. Avery Davis/Madison Brabham (SC) 21-18, 21-15
3. Hannah Mackenhausen/Alyssa Keller (SC) def. Olivia Stasevich/Mattie Johnson (GSU) 22-20, 21-19
4. Jordan Smith/Jess Vastine (SC) def. Meagan McCall/Maddie Gordon (GSU) 17-21, 21-19, 15-10
5. Angel Ferary/Bella Ferary (GSU) def. Carly Schnieder/Morgyn Greer (SC) 21-16, 23-21
Order of finish: 2,1,3,5,4*
