COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecocks Dominate in Weekend Victories

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecocks Take Down Two Opponents Saturday

Fresh off a bye week, South Carolina beach volleyball returned to action with day one of the Palmetto Invitational on Wheeler Beach. Saturday featured a pair of 4-1 home victories, first over UNCW (15-8) and then UT Martin (10-11). The Gamecocks improve to 13-9 for the season, including a 9-1 mark on their home sand.

Strong Start Against UNCW

In the morning dual with UNCW, all five courts would be decided in straight sets. The Gamecocks avoided any drama with wins on courts three, four, and five to clinch the team victory early on. Jolie Cranford and Julia Waugh’s 21-13, 21-14 sweep in the threes would be the deciding point. New pairings got the team off to a strong start, with VB Trost and Morgan Downs picking up their first win together on court four and Peyton Yamagata and Sophie Bengoechea getting the win together on five.

Dominance Against UT Martin

Downs and Trost got the team off to a good start in the evening dual with UT Martin, the sophomore duo allowed just 21 points total to the Skyhawks in a 21-16, 21-5 sweep for the team’s first point. The visitors countered with a three-set win on court five to tie the score at 1-1, but South Carolina would dominate the rest of the way, picking up sweeps on each of the top three courts. Cranford and Waugh would again be the clinching point of the 4-1 decision with a 21-14, 21-17 sweep on three.

Notable Mentions

• Junior Kristen Schenck made her first career start in the evening dual with UT Martin.
• Senior Peyton Yamagata played with her sixth different partner of the season in the UNCW dual.
• VB Trost and Morgan Downs are the 11th different pairing to represent the Gamecocks on court four this season.

Up Next

South Carolina wraps up the home weekend on Sunday, with duals against Morehead State and Mercer. The day starts at 11 a.m. against the Eagles and finishes up at 3 p.m. against the Bears.

Results

South Carolina 4, UNCW 1

• 1: Skylar Allen/Allison Coens (SC) def. Gabby LaPata/Sadie Sharkey (UNCW) 21-13, 21-17
• 2: Lyvia Trimp/Maddy Folks (UNCW) def. Riley Whitesides/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) 21-14, 21-19
• 3: Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (SC) def. Sarah Thompson/Ellie Bucci (UNCW) 21-13, 21-14
• 4: VB Trost/Morgan Downs (SC) def. Bri Haggerty/Gracie Sistrunk (UNCW) 21-17, 21-17
• 5: Peyton Yamagata/Sophie Bengoechea (SC) def. Charlotte Cronister/Jadyn Barry (UNCW) 21-18, 21-19

South Carolina 4, UT Martin 1

• 1: Skylar Allen/Allison Coens (SC) def. Jenna Vallee/Olivia O’Keefe (UTM) 21-13, 21-19
• 2: Riley Whitesides/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Sydney Eckhardt/Dylan Mott (UTM) 21-15, 21-12
• 3: Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (SC) def. Ryan Rednour/Addy Vaughn (UTM) 21-14, 21-17
• 4: VB Trost/Morgan Downs (SC) def. Hae
  

  Author: HERE Chapin