March 21, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team extended its winning streak to six duals with a 3-2 victory over Tulane on Saturday afternoon at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.
The Gamecocks improve to 10-2 on the season, including a 5-0 record at home. Tulane drops to 7-5 with the loss.
Carolina’s No. 2 pair of Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent set the tone early as they cruised past Tulane’s Madeline Mertz and Lan Nguyen by the scores of 21-12 and 21-13 to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
In the No. 4 pairs match, the Gamecock duo of Jade Hayes and Macie Tendrich battled back and forth with Tulane’s Miah Diirell and Annie Shurtz in the first set before claiming a 22-20 win. Hayes and Tendrich then finished off the Green Wave tandem with a 21-14 win in the second set to give Carolina a 2-0 lead.
The Gamecocks’ No. 5 pair of KoKo Atoa-Williams and Allie Monserez clinched the victory for Carolina as they topped Sarah Strasner and Christian McAfee by the scores of 21-16 and 21-13 to give the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead.
Tulane picked up wins in the No. 1 and No. 3 pairs matches. The Green Wave pair of Tea Juric and Jackie Wegner defeated Carolina’s top pair of Maddie Frome and Julia Mannisto by the scores of 21-13 and 21-19.
At No. 3 Tulane’s Grace Weaver and Hannah Holmes slipped past Carolina’s Jade Vitt and Sarah Blomgren in three sets by the scores of 18-21, 21-18 and 15-9 to end the match.
The Gamecocks will be back in action tonight in a dual with No. 4 Florida State. First serve is set for 7. The dual will be streamed live on the SEC Network+ digital platform.
Results
South Carolina 3, Tulane 2
No. 1: Tea Juric/Jackie Wegner (TU) def. Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) 21-13, 21-19
No. 2: Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) def. Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen (TU) 21-12, 21-13
No. 3: Grace Weaver/Hannah Holmes (TU) def. Jade Vitt/Sarah Blomgren (SC) 18-21, 21-18, 15-9
No. 4: Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Miah Diirell/Annie Shurtz (TU) 22-20, 21-14
No. 5: KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Sarah Strasner/Christina/McAfee (TU) 21-16, 21-13
