Aug. 19, 2007

The South Carolina volleyball team is less than one week away from opening the season at the Delaware/Asics Invitational over Aug. 24-25 in Newark, Del. To learn more about the 2007 Gamecocks, read on for a look at this year’s setters. Also, check out previously posted outlooks on South Carolina’s MIDDLE BLOCKERS and OUTSIDE HITTERS.

SETTERS

The setter position is often compared to football’s quarterback and for good reason. Setters call the offense and are forced to make split-second decisions when a team is out of system. Unlike quarterbacks, though, setters are often looked for to provide defense by both digging balls and making blocks. It is a position that requires a lot of skill and athleticism, and a team’s success is often determined by the quality of play of its setter.

South Carolina lost one of the most complete players in school history to graduation following the 2006 season. After spending her first two years as an outside hitter and libero, Iris Santos became the team’s starting setter for much of her junior year and was the clear-cut choice to start as a senior. She ended her career as just the second player in school history to record 500 kills and 2,000 assists. During her junior year, Santos compiled two triple-doubles and etched her name in the Gamecock records book as the only player to finish with at least 200 kills, 200 digs and 500 assists in one season.

Petra Lorenzi was the Gamecocks’ back-up setter for the past two years and looks to become the starter this season.

Serving as Santos’ backup during the past two years was junior Petra Lorenzi, who hopes to become the starter this season. Hailing from Crescent City, Calif., Lorenzi gained valuable experience as a freshman and became a contributor for the Gamecocks last year when Santos missed the final nine matches of the year because of a medical condition. Lorenzi had two double-double performances in the nine matches and played setter and back row in two key wins over Kentucky and Tennessee.

“Petra has a lot of experience in the gym and has had time to build relationships,” Somera said. “Whether she has a huge advantage remains to be seen. She works hard and is very athletic. Petra needs to show she’s the best person to do the job.”

Also competing for the starting position is freshman Jordan Bradosky from Centerville, Ohio. Bradosky made the All-Ohio Division I Teams as a sophomore, junior and senior and did the same with regard to the Greater Western Ohio All-Conference First Team. She set the state record for aces in a match with 23 and is second on the list as well with 18. PrepVolleyball.com picked Bradosky as one of the top 200 seniors in the country, and she was recognized by the Web site as a freshman and sophomore. Bradosky served as the starting setter for her club teams and competed in three Junior Olympic National Championships.

Bradosky and Lorenzi may be used simultaneously depending on how things shape up during preseason practices. After Santos was removed from the lineup in 2006, Lorenzi and Alexcis Thomson were sometimes on the court at the same time since they each offered a different set of skills and strengths. Bedore is a sleeper for setting duties as well.

“Multiple setters offers the opportunity to work on different parts of the game,” Somera said. “I hope they develop into leaders for us, which also depends on the rest of the personnel.

“The setter needs to be the quarterback of the team because everybody looks to her in between every rally. That person needs to have a look of presence and confidence to keep the rest of the team in line. All of them are close enough in skill that the sets won’t get to the hitters any differently. It’ll be who can manage the emotions of the team on the court that determines who the starter will be.”