COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecock beach volleyball split two Friday duals at home to open the final weekend of the regular season. The team swept Jacksonville (14-16) in the morning but came up just short in a 4-1 loss to No. 10 LSU (22-9).
In the morning opener, the Gamecocks (18-12) jumped all over Jacksonville, not dropping a single set on the five courts. Sophie Bengoechea got her senior weekend started with a decisive win on court five, opening the scoring with a 21-13, 21-15 sweep with partner VB Trost. Morgan Downs and Peyton Yamagata followed close behind with a 21-18, 21-19 win for a 2-0 advantage in the team score. Allison Coens and Hannah Mackenhausen clinched the team win with a 21-10, 21-16 sweep of the third flight and Jolie Cranford and Julia Waugh closed the dual with a 21-16, 27-25 win in their first match of the season on court two.
South Carolina squared off with the 10th-ranked Tigers for its annual senior night, recognizing six graduates prior to first serves: Skylar Allen, Sophie Bengoechea, Allison Coens, Hannah Mackenhausen, McKenzie Nichols and Jillian Gleason. LSU claimed the first point with a sweep on court five, but Carolina countered with a first-set win from Downs and Yamagata on four. The Gamecocks lost the momentum and the lead after the Tigers came back for a 19-21, 21-16, 15-8 win for a 2-0 lead, forcing South Carolina to try to win all three of the matches in the second wave to get the team win.
The Gamecocks got off to a fair start in the top three flights, getting wins on one and three, but LSU took the opener on court two. The two teams traded off second sets, putting the fate of the dual in the hands of three three-set matches across Wheeler Beach. The Tigers clinched the team victory with a win on court three, South Carolina got a solid comeback win from Cranford on Waugh on court two but it would be the long point for the home side.
UP NEXT
The regular season will end on Saturday after two more duals for the Gamecocks. The team opens the day at 11 a.m. against Coastal Carolina, then hosts No. 15 Georgia State at 5 p.m. in the regular season finale.
For continued updates on the team, follow @GamecockBeachVB on Twitter and Instagram.
RESULTS
#20 South Carolina 5, Jacksonville 0
- Skylar Allen/Riley Whitesides (SC) def. Anna Erickson/Olivia Szyskiewicz (JU) 21-12, 21-19
- Jolie Cranford/Julia Waugh (SC) def. Emily Kubicsko/Jenna McNamara (JU) 21-16, 27-25
- Allison Coens/Hannah Mackenhausen (SC) def. Meredith…