Nov. 8, 2005

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – South Carolina volleyball is in desperate need of at least two wins in their final three SEC matches of the season as they fight for a spot to the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks’ first challenge will be the Tennessee Lady Vols on Wednesday night in Knoxville. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at Stokely Athletics Center. USC is 10-13 overall, 3-10 in the SEC and is currently in ninth-place in the conference. Tennessee is 16-7 and 10-3 in the SEC.

The Gamecocks are scheduled to host Auburn and Alabama this weekend to wrap up the SEC regular season and need at least two wins to earn a spot in the tournament. USC had been in every SEC Tournament since 1991, the year South Carolina joined the SEC.

South Carolina suffered a 3-1 loss to the Lady Vols earlier this season in Columbia and hope to avenge the loss. The Gamecocks are 2-8 in their last 10 games. A win would also snap a five-game losing streak for USC and would be their first against a division foe since 2003.

In their last 10 matches, freshman Marija Milosevic and junior Shonda Cole have provided the numbers for the team. Milosevic hit .237 with 116 kills, averaging 3.14 kills per game and has a team leading 14 aces. Cole registered 140 kills for an average of 3.14 per game and .214 attack percentage. As a team, USC has struggled offensively and is hitting .182 while opponents are hitting .261. Defensively, the Gamecocks have outdug their opponents 502-496, and outblocked opponents 91-83.

Yuliya Stoyanova leads the Lady Vols with 326 kills and is averaging 4.41 kills per game. Kristen Andre leads in hitting percentage with .384 and is among the leagues top attackers. Andre is second on the team in blocks with 83.

For the series, Tennessee now leads 23-22 and has won the last five matches.