Oct. 9, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – In a game three rally, South Carolina (13-3, 6-0 SEC) volleyball swept the Kentucky Wildcats (7-8, 1-4 SEC) 3-0 for the second time this season. Carolina’s 6-0 SEC start is the second longest in school history. Sam Alban led the Gamecocks in hitting as she posted a .417 average with 11 kills. Niece Curry led the team in kills with 14 for her sixth consecutive double-figure kill match.
Alban led the Gamecocks in game one with six kills and hit .750 as Carolina cruised in the 30-23 win. Carolina held the Wildcats to just .175 in hitting, while the Gamecocks maintained the lead during the entire game and hit .293.
The Gamecocks continued to roll in game two as they served five aces to Kentucky’s two and out hit UK .324 to .194. The Wildcats attempted several runs at grabbing a lead including tying the game five times but failed to go on top. At the break, Carolina was hitting .412 to UK’s .183 while Alban led the way with nine kills, zero attacks and a .750 percentage. Curry was close behind with eight kills and a .667 percentage.
Down 18-22, Carolina went on a 4-0 run to bring USC within one. The Gamecocks eventually tied the match 24-24 and grabbed their first lead of the game on a kill by Sarah Morgan. The Wildcats tied the match again 29-29 then USC tied it 30-30. Up 31-30, a ball handling error by Kentucky gave the Gamecocks match point and the 3-0 victory.
South Carolina returns to action Sunday, when they host Tennessee in Columbia. Action begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Volleyball Competition Facility.
-USC-
