Smith Reaches Milestone in Beach Volleyball's Win Over UNCW
The senior's 90th career win clinched the team's 4-1 dual win Friday afternoon
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina beach volleyball ran its win streak to six games after a 4-1 win over UNCW Friday afternoon. Senior Katie Smith recorded her 90th career victory as an individual in the dual, making her just the second member of the program to reach the milestone. The 16th-ranked Gamecocks are now 19-7 overall for the season, with an 11-5 mark in CCSA conference duals. Those 11 wins are tied for the most in a single season since joining the conference in 2016.
In the opening wave of matches, the team got on the board first with a sweep from Morgyn Greer and Carly Schnieder. After grinding out a close 23-21 opening set, the two locked down UNCW in the second set and finished the win with a 21-11 margin. Alyssa Keller and Hannah Mackenhausen followed close behind with a 21-16, 21-16 in the fourth flight, pushing the team score up to 2-0. The team celebrated a special moment together in the end of the first three matches, seeing senior Louise Kooiman end her career as a Gamecock with a three-set win in the exhibition pairing. Teaming up with Ashley Brasfield, Kooiman went out on top with a 21-16, 18-21, 15-12 win.
Smith and partner Skylar Allen clinched the overall team victory to jump start the second wave of matches. Playing in the top pairing, the two came away with a 21-14, 21-14 sweep that made it a 3-0 dual score. Not only was it their sixth win in a row together and 10th overall this season, but it boosted Smith into an exclusive club. She joins the program’s career wins leader Macie Tendrich as the only two Gamecocks to reach 90 career wins, and Smith needs just three more wins this season to match Tendrich’s record.
Capping the team’s scoring was Abby Carroll and Jess Vastine, who won 21-19, 21-15 on court three for the fourth and final team point for Carolina. It was Vastine’s 22nd win as an individual this season, and 13th conference win. That ties her with Tendrich and current teammates Carly Schnieder and Jordan Smith for most CCSA wins in a single season by any Gamecock individual.
UP NEXT
The team has two Saturday duals with in-state opponents to cap the final weekend of the regular season. Up first is an 11 a.m. dual with Erskine College, then a 3 p.m. matchup with conference rival College of Charleston.
RESULTS
No. 16 South Carolina 4, UNCW 1
1. Skylar Allen/Katie Smith (SC) def. JM Lewandowski/Ashley Thompson (UNCW) 21-14, 21-14
2. Sadie Sharkey/Casey Goodwin (UNCW) def. Avery Davis/Madison Brabham (SC) 21-18, 15-21, 15-13
3. Abby Carroll/Jess Vastine (SC) def. Rachel Shaffer/Katie Lanz (UNCW) 21-19, 21-15
4. Hannah Mackenhausen/Alyssa Keller (SC) def. Brooke Hanshumaker/Elena Turnbull (UNCW) 21-16, 21-16
5. Carly Schnieder/Morgyn Greer (SC) def. Mya Duggan/Reagan Evans (UNCW) 23-21, 21-11
Ext. Ashley Brasfield/Louise Kooiman (SC) def. Ellie Bucci/Tyla Cutrie (UNCW) 21-16, 18-21, 15-12
Order of finish: 5,4,1*,3,2
*-Deciding Point
