No. 20 Beach Volleyball Sweeps Opening Day, Extends Win Streak to Ten

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The No. 20 South Carolina beach volleyball team captured two more wins to extend their win streak to ten on the first day of the March to May Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. The Gamecocks (12-2) defeated UAB 5-0 and North Alabama 4-1.

In the first wave of competition, the pair of Evie Ziffer and Julia Waugh gave the Gamecocks an early advantage after claiming a straight-sets win from the second position. Juju Quintero and Annalyse Askew battled back from dropping their first set. They went on to win the second 22-20 and grab the point with a 15-8 third set win.

Brooke Balue and Rachel Hartmann were first to kick off the second wave, as they picked up a 21-17 first set win. After a little back and forth between both pairs, Balue and Hartmann were able to get the job done and notch another point for South Carolina. Amelia Taft and Morgan Downs added another point to the Gamecocks’ total with a win from the fifth position. Jolie Cranford and Peyton Yamagata were forced to battle into a third set but were able to complete the sweep, taking the final frame 15-11.

Against North Alabama, Askew and Quintero kicked things off, grabbing the first win of the evening from the fourth position. In the second wave, Downs and Taft continued momentum, picking up their opening set. They would go on to win their court and give South Carolina a 2-1 lead over North Alabama. Hartmann and Balue bounced back after dropping the first set to win the second. The No. 1 pair got the job done in extra play, won their court, and secured the tenth-straight win for the Gamecocks.

No. 20 South Carolina 5, UAB 0

1. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (SC) vs. Olivia Stant/Jasmine Haas (UAB) 21-17, 25-23
2. Evie Ziffer/Julia Waugh (SC) vs. Pien Grooters/Lauren Cairo (UAB) 21-19, 21-19
3. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (SC) vs. Ava Knott/Olivia Chychrun (UAB) 21-19, 21-23, 15-11
4. Juju Quintero/Annalyse Askew (SC) vs. Sadie Sharpe/Claudia Stockard (UAB) 14-21, 22-20, 15-8
5. Amelia Taft/Morgan Downs (SC) vs. Amelia Sullivan/Isabel Day (UAB) 25-23, 21-19
6. VB Trost/Lauren Lawson (SC) vs. Delaney Rich/Ashley Torsone (UAB) 21-16, 13-21, 15-13 

No. 20 South Carolina 4, North Alabama 1 

1. Brooke Balue/Rachel Hartmann (SC) vs. Audrey Gauthier/Selma Robinson (UNA) 19-21, 21-14, 15-13
2. Paige Griner/Sarah Larkin Lewis (UNA) def. Evie Ziffer/Julia Waugh (SC) 21-18, 21-15
3. Jolie Cranford/Peyton Yamagata (SC) vs. Jennah Atchley/Brooke Bolden (UNA) 21-12, 21-16
4. Juju Quintero/Annalyse Askew (SC) vs. Lucy Wedding/Hailey Benesz (UNA) 21-18, 21-15
5. Amelia Taft/Morgan Downs (SC) vs. Abby Robertson/Mabrey Whitehead (UNA) 21-13-21-17