Tampa, Florida. – Sham Beach Volleyball concluded its run Saturday with the Tampa Invitational. The team lost to No. 18 Arizona State (4-0) and No. 12 Georgia State (2-2), 4-1 and 3-2, respectively. South Carolina is 0-4 after the opening weekend of the regular season, marking the first time in program history that the Gamecocks have gone winless on the opening weekend of the season. The team's four-game losing streak was recorded again in March 2017.
A similar theme plagued the Shamcocks as the team's back-to-back games against Arizona State began the day. The Sun Devils won three sets on courts 4 and 5 to take a 2-0 lead in team scoring. South Carolina advanced by sweeping the first flight by Skylar Allen and Allison Cohens, 23-21, 21-17, but Arizona State swept the second and third games to give the team the victory. I decided.
It was in the weekend final against Georgia State that the team's luck finally turned in three sets. After the Panthers took a 1-0 lead with a sweep on Court 4, South Carolina was able to fight back in the fifth flight with a three-set victory between Jory Cranford and Chase Thiel. This was the team's first and only three-set victory (out of 10 chances) of the tournament. The Panthers stormed out with a win on Court 1, but once again the Shamcocks would respond. Hannah Mackenhausen and Riley Whitesides narrowly won the match, winning 22-20, 22-20 in the third flight. Georgia State won on Court 2 and finished the dual with a final margin of 3-2.
next
The Shamcocks will play the next two weekends at home before kicking off the month with the Wheeler Beach Bash, March 2-3. South Carolina will host Chattanooga, Coastal Carolina, UNCW and College of Charleston over two days, with the Shamcocks playing Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For ongoing updates about our team, follow us @GamecockBeach on Twitter and Instagram.
result
18th place Arizona State University 4th place, 17th place South Carolina State University 1st place
1: Skylar Allen and Allison Cohens (SC) def. Anya Pemberton and Daniela Kensinger (ASU), 23-21, 21-17
2: Arden Besecker and Eva Williamson (ASU) def. Abigail Largeman and Peyton Yamagata (SC), 21-15, 21-18
3: Lexi Sweeney and Taryn Ames (ASU) def. Riley Whiteside and Hannah McEnhausen (SC), 21-18, 26-24
4: Eva Kirunczyk and Eva Hoey (ASU) def. Chase Thiel and Jolly Cranford (SC), 13-21, 21-14, 15-13
5: Kendall Whitmarsh and Adri Nieves Papaleo (ASU) def. Evie Ziffer and Sophie Bengoechea (SC), 21-16, 17-21, 15-12
Order of arrival: 4,5,1,2*,3
12th Georgia State University 3, 17th University of South Carolina 2
1: Angel Ferrari and Bella Ferrari (GSU) def. Skyler Allen and Allison Cohens (SC), 21-19, 21-18
2: Lila Bordis and Allie Keller (GSU) def. Abigail Largeman and Payton Yamagata (SC), 21-18, 21-16
3: Riley Whiteside and Hannah McEnhausen (SC) DF. Elise Saga and Aliyah Johnson (GSU), 22-20, 22-20
4: Savannah Everb and Destiny White (GSU) def. Morgan Downs and Sophie Bengoechea (SC), 21-18, 21-14
5: Chase Teal and Jolie Cranford (SC) def. Ellie Neville and Kathy Theis (GSU), 21-15, 19-21, 15-7
Order of arrival: 4,5,1,3,2*
