The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
South Carolina
Blazers Split First Day At Gamecock Invitational
3/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Beach Volleyball
March 22, 2014
UAB 3, Mercer 2 
| South Carolina 3, UAB 2
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The UAB sand volleyball team finished 1-1 on the first day of competition at the 2014 Gamecock Invitational hosted by South Carolina.
UAB (1-4) opened the day with a, 3-2, win over Mercer (3-3) in the morning, but tournament-host South Carolina edged the Blazers, 3-2, in the second match.
Against Mercer, the Blazers started the match strong, winning at the top three positions to secure the match-win early. The duo of Kiriana Hirini and Bethanie Thomas improved to 3-0 at the No. 1 position against the Bears this season. The pair topped Tori Penrod and Natalie Braun, 21-17, 16-21, 15-12 to give UAB the 1-0 lead.
At the No. 2 position, Sam Serley and Alison Woods teamed up for their third win against Mercer this season. The pair defeated Emma Peel and Jamie Duffy in straight-sets, 21-18, 23-21, to put the Blazers up 2-0.
Then, Sara Rishell and Rachel Fairbanks combined for their first win this season after defeating Mercer's Caroline Carlton and Demi-Shay Watchorn, 21-15, 21-15. The win at the No. 3 position secured UAB's first win of the season.
In the second match of the day against South Carolina, UAB started off strong once again with a win at the No. 1 position. Hirini and Thomas defeated the Gamecocks' pair of Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent in straight-sets, 21-19, 21-16.
South Carolina countered with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. UAB's Woods and Serley fell to Mikaela Christiaanse and Jade Vitt, 21-17, 21-17 at No. 2, while Amber Treace and Ally Slaughter forced a three-set match but were defeated by Chynna Ratner and Jodan Loney, 21-18, 22-24, 15-12 to give South Carolina a 2-1 lead.
The Blazers tied the match up 2-2 after the pair of Rishell and Fairbanks combined for a win at the No. 4 position. The duo topped Koko Atoa-Williams and Erin Neuenfeldt, 21-19, 21-8 to force a tie-breaker at the No. 5 position.
It took three sets to decide the match, but UAB's pair of Becca Howard and Gabby Deshotel couldn't hold on as South Carolina's Litsa Darby and Morgan LaVigne took the win, 18-21, 21-19, 15-8.
UAB will return to action in the second day of competition at the Gamecock Invitational tomorrow. The Blazers will begin with their first match against College of Charleston at 11:30 a.m. ET, followed by Oregon at 2:30 p.m. ET.
For the latest news on Blazer sports, follow the UAB Athletics Twitter account: @UABathletics. For volleyball news, follow @UABSandVBall.
