Volleyball Drops Regular Season Finale to No. 4 Texas in Four Sets
AUSTIN, Texas – The South Carolina volleyball team (10-15, 4-11 SEC) wrapped up the 2025 regular season after a head-to-head battle with No. 4 Texas (21-2, 13-2 SEC), falling 3-1 at the Gregory Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
It was a balanced effort from South Carolina’s offense with six players recording four or more kills, three of which earned double digits. The Gamecocks kept up with the Longhorns across the board as only four or less points separated the two teams in attacks, kills, aces, digs and blocks.
1st SET: Texas took the first point of the match on a service error from South Carolina and held onto the lead for the remainder of the set. The Longhorns pulled away to 7-4, riding on solely kills and errors from the Gamecocks. South Carolina was able to stay within three, riding on kill from three different Gamecocks but an unsuccessful challenge shifted the momentum and Texas went on three 3-0 runs to win the first set 25-16.
2nd SET: The Gamecocks opened up the set in a close back and forth battle before Elizabeth McElveen’s second ace of the match helped them pull away to a 5-3 lead. Texas then came within one but the Gamecocks rallied back with a kill from Emily Beeker and Longhorn attack error. The two teams remained neck and neck with Texas eventually taking the lead at 9-8 before stringing together a 5-0 run to extend the edge to 15-10, prompting a South Carolina timeout. Back-to-back kills from Nia Hall cut back on lead and had the Gamecocks trailing 15-12 but Texas again put a five point barrier between the two, leading 20-15. South Carolina slowed the Longhorns’ momentum, utilizing a Texas attack error and kill from Ava Leahy to come within three but the set ultimately ended in favor of the Longhorns 25-21.
3rd SET: South Carolina turns on the gas in set three, hitting .500 with only one attack error to overpower Texas and claim a set victory. Similar to set two, the Gamecocks grabbed an early lead at a 6-4 edge, extending it to 8-5 on an ace from Leahy. A kill from Hall and two consecutive kills from Beeker pushed the lead to 11-6, forcing a Texas timeout. The Gamecocks continued to build upon the lead, taking eight of the next 10 points to force another Texas timeout and lead18-10. Not letting up, the Garnet & Black earn their largest lead of the match at 22-12 to flirt with set point but Texas responded with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to five. Laiya Ebo closed the set at 25-19 with her third kill of the match.
4th SET: The Gamecocks carried the momentum into the fourth set, again opening the frame with a lead that they were able to build upon. Texas caught up at 11-11 and pushed to a 14-11 lead after capitalizing on a Gamecock attack error. Two serves dictated the next two points in favor of the Gamecocks, a service error from the Longhorns and ace from Sarah Jordan, to cut the lead to one. South Carolina was able to trail by two or less for the next several plays until Texas began pulling away, eventually reaching match point at 24-20. A kill from Elise Marchal kept the Gamecocks alive but Texas closed the set at 25-21, winning the match 3-1.
Notables
- Six different Gamecocks had at least four kills; Elise Marchal (4), Alayna Johnson (7), Ava Leahy (9), Laiya Ebo (10), Emily Beeker (11) and Nia Hall (12)
- Three Gamecocks hit .300 or better; Leahy (.364), Beeker (.400) and Ebo (.500)
- Ebo had her fourth match of the season hitting .500 or better. She had zero errors in today’s match
- Beeker earned seven of the team’s nine blocks. She has tallied 108 this season
- Victoria Harris had her 20th match of the season with double digit digs, recording a team leading 19
- Kimmie Thompson led in assists with 24, her sixth match in the 20s. Sarah Jordan followed closely with 22, her 11th match with 20 or more. Jordan has earned double digit assists for all but one match during the regular season
- The team hit .264, the third highest mark in conference play this season
Up Next: The Gamecocks head to Savannah, Georgia next week to compete in the SEC Championship hosted at Enmarket Arena. 13th seeded South Carolins will face 12th seeded Alabama on Friday, Nov. 21, 30 minutes after the prior match (which starts at 1:00 p.m.) ends.
