March 22, 2015
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina sand volleyball team closed out the Gamecock Invitational with a 4-1 victory over UAB on Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.
The Gamecocks, winners of seven of their last eight duals, improve to 11-3 on the year and are now 6-1 at home. With the loss, UAB drops to 2-6 on the season.
The No. 2 and No. 4 pairs set the tone for the Gamecocks early. Carolina’s No. 2 pair of seniors Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent dropped the first set to UAB’s Leslie Ekpe and Ally Slaughter before bouncing back with a 21-15 win in the second set. Wheeler and Kent then cruised to a 15-8 win in set three to give the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
In the No. 4 pairs match, Carolina’s Jade Hayes and Macie Tendrich took the first set from the Blazers’ Rachel Fairbanks and Sara Rishell, 21-18. However, Fairbanks and Rishell forced a third set with a 21-18 win in the second frame. Hayes and Tendrich then edged the UAB duo by the score of 15-13 in the third set to give Carolina a 2-0 advantage.
In the second wave of pairs, UAB cut Carolina’s lead to 2-1, as the Blazers’ top pair of Bethanie Thomas and Kiriana Hirini swept Maddie Frome and Julia Mannisto by the scores of 21-10 and 21-15.
However, the Gamecocks clinched the win with a victory in the No. 3 pairs match. Carolina’s Jade Vitt and Sarah Blomgren dispatched UAB’s Anna Messisco and Gabbi Moreno by the scores of 21-8 and 21-15 to give the Gamecocks a 3-1 lead.
Carolina’s No. 5 pair of KoKo Atoa-Williams and Allie Monserez then closed out the dual with a win, defeating UAB’s Becca Howard and Avei Logoleo in three sets by the scores of 19-21, 21-15 and 15-9.
In the exhibition match, the Gamecock tandem of Erin Neuenfeldt and Litsa Darby defeated Haley Jared and Emma Schroer, 21-10 and 21-16.
The Gamecocks will host the Palmetto Invitational next weekend to close out their home slate. Carolina will face Pepperdine on Saturday (11 a.m.) and Florida International on Sunday (11 a.m.). Pairs bracket play will also take place both days at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.
Results
South Carolina 4, UAB 1
No. 1: Bethanie Thomas/Kiriana Hirini (UAB) def. Maddie Frome/Julia Mannisto (SC) 21-10, 21-15
No. 2: Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (SC) def. Leslie Ekpe/Ally Slaughter (UAB) 20-22, 21-15, 15-8
No. 3: Jade Vitt/Sarah Blomgren (SC) def. Anna Messisco/Gabbi Moreno (UAB) 21-8, 21-15
No. 4: Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (SC) def. Rachel Fairbanks/Sara Rishell (UAB) 21-18, 18-21, 15-13
No. 5: KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (SC) def. Becca Howard/Avei Logoleo (UAB) 19-21, 21-15, 15-9
Exh.: Erin Neuenfeldt/Litsa Darby (SC) def. Haley Jared/Emma Schroer (UAB) 21-10, 21-16
