Gamecocks Fall in Sunday Road Matinee
The team has one game remaining in the regular season, a home game vs. Arkansas on Nov. 26
GAINESVILLE, FLA. – South Carolina (14-13, 6-11 SEC) lost its final road game of the 2021 regular season Sunday afternoon, dropping a three-set match at No. 20 Florida (20-6, 14-2 SEC). Kyla Manning again led the team in kills, with eight, giving her 26 for the two-game series.
SET ONE: Florida’s offense kept its momentum from Saturday’s win, opening the match with nine kills on its first 13 swings to build a 12-6 lead and force a quick timeout from South Carolina. The Gators hit .452 with 16-8 advantage in kills in the set, using five blocks and a pair of service aces to limit the Gamecock offense. Kyla Manning led the team with three kills and three digs, but the rest of the Carolina offense combined for five kills and six errors on 27 swings.
SET TWO: South Carolina played a more well-rounded game in set two, but Florida pushed away for a 25-19 win and a 2-0 set lead. The Gamecocks used a pair of blocks from Oby Anadi to spark a 4-0 run early that tied the score at 6-6, but the Gators answered with six of the next seven points. Florida’s offensive efficiency dropped to .308 in the second, but the home side still enjoyed a 16-9 advantage in kills and added three aces and three blocks to get the set win.
SET THREE: Florida was uncharacteristically wild early in the third, committing three unforced attacking errors and two more errors from South Carolina blocks to give the Gamecocks a 16-14 lead. The Gators shook off their early errors and used a late 7-0 run to flip a 19-17 lead for South Carolina lead into a deficit from which the Gamecocks could not come back.
UP NEXT
The 2021 regular season closes out in the friendly confined of the Carolina Volleyball Center, when South Carolina hosts Arkansas on Nov. 26 for a Black Friday showdown. First serve with the Razorbacks is scheduled for 7 p.m.
