Aug. 23, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina volleyball team is set to open the 2007 season Friday at the Delaware/Asics Invitational in Newark, Del. The Gamecocks first face Binghamton at 4:30 p.m. Friday and take on Boston College and Delaware the following day at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

South Carolina is coming off a 15-17 record in 2006 and returns seven letterwinners. First-year head coach Ben Somera has eight true freshmen on a roster of 16 players and three upperclassmen in juniors Dinelia Concepcion, Belita Salters and Petra Lorenzi.

The Gamecocks have never played Binghamton and have just one prior meeting with Boston College, a 3-0 South Carolina win at a tournament hosted by Georgia in 1988. South Carolina and Delaware have played twice with the last coming in 1994 at the National Invitational Volleyball Championship in Kansas City, Mo. Carolina won the match by a 3-1 score.

Former South Carolina head coach Bonnie Kenny, who served the Gamecocks from 1984 to 1992, coaches the Blue Hens of Delaware. Kenny posted a 171-137 (.555) record at South Carolina and led the Gamecocks to their inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance in her first season at the helm.

South Carolina will be in action Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 at the Third Degree Sportswear Invitational, hosted by Virginia Commonwealth, in Richmond, Va. The Gamecocks begin their home schedule Sept. 7-8 hosting the Nike Gamecock Invitational.