Gamecocks Complete Perfect Weekend at Wheeler Beach Bash

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina beach volleyball team secured two more wins to complete a perfect 4-0 weekend at Wheeler Beach on Saturday night. The Gamecocks (6-2) defeated Chattanooga 5-0 and Coastal Carolina 4-1 on the second day of the Wheeler Beach Bash.

The Gamecocks picked up right where they left off, taking the first set across all three courts in the first wave. Juju Quintero and Annalyse Askew dominated their opponent from Chattanooga with a 21-14, 21-14 win from the fourth position. UTC pushed back on court one, but Evie Ziffer and Julia Waugh came out on top 21-12, 23-21.

In the second wave, South Carolina jumped out to an early advantage on each court, including two 21-13 wins from the first and fifth pairs. Amelia Taft and Morgan Downs shut down court three with a 21-12, 21-13 win against their opponent, giving the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead. Leading duo Brooke Balue and Rachel Hartmann grabbed their third win of the weekend as they defeated the Chattanooga pair 21-13, 21-15. Jolie Cranford and Peyton Yamagata fought back from dropping their second frame, taking the third, 15-10, securing yet another Gamecock sweep.

Against Coastal Carolina, Ziffer and Waugh picked up the first Gamecocks point of the match with a 22-20, 21-15 victory. Quintero and Askew grabbed another win, taking court two 21-17, 22-20. In the second wave, the Gamecocks dropped first sets on two of three courts but were able to grab a first-set win thanks to Amelia Taft and Morgan Downs. The pair were able to clinch the match for South Carolina, defeating their opponent, 22-20, 21-15. Balue and Hartmann were unable to fight back in the third set, but Cranford and Yamagata added another point to the Gamecocks’ total with a thrilling 16-21, 21-18, 15-13 win.

South Carolina 5, Chattanooga 0

1. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (USC) vs. McKenna Faychak/Maddie Lecik (UTC) 21-13, 21-15
2. Evie Ziffer/Julia Waugh (USC) def. Corina Vale/Julia Lawrence (UTC) 21-12, 23-21
3. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (USC) vs. Sydney Jackwin/Ansley Gulledge (UTC) 21-16, 16-21, 15-10
4. Juju Quintero/Annalyse Askew (USC) def. Taylor Clark/Ashli McKenny (UTC) 21-14,21-14
5. Amelia Taft/Morgan Downs (USC) vs. Ava Goryl/Madeline McCabe (UTC) 21-13, 21-12
6. VB Trost/Grace Travis (USC) def. Addyson Witkamp/Jocelyn Bloedel (UTC) 21-7, 21-15

South Carolina 4, Coastal Carolina 1

1. Emma Kunaus/Frida Meincke Lyo (CCU) def. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (USC) 21-17, 21-23, 15-13
2. Evie Ziffer/Julia Waugh (USC) def. Maya McNabney/Kristyna Koblizkova (CCU) 22-20, 21-15
3. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (USC) vs. Courtney Burham/Madeline Sigmon (CCU) 16-21, 21-18, 15-13
4. Juju Quintero/Annalyse Askew (USC) def. Jillian Stein/Anna Rita (CCU) 21-17, 22-20
5. Amelia Taft/Morgan Downs (USC) vs. Karis Gordon/Olivia Pippin (CCU) 22-20, 21-15
6. Ava Novello/Ella Wadsworth (CCU) def. Lauren Lawson/Sadie Nelson (USC) 23-21, 21-16, 15-12