Nov. 4, 2016

Call to reserve your tickets for Sun., Nov. 13, toll-free: 800-4SC-FANS (800-472-3267)

Dads can make a huge impact on the lives of their daughters, and South Carolina Volleyball is celebrating that special relationships with “Daddy & Daughter Date Day” when the Gamecocks host Missouri at 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, at the Carolina Volleyball Center. Fans can get two tickets for only $8 and get their picture taken at the match with a frame included. The Gamecock student-athletes are also excited to celebrate their dads at the event.

“My dad (Tim) has been such a big influence in my life,” said freshman Courtney Koehler. “He always pushed me to be the best that I can be. When I was at home, we always made it a big thing to spend time with each other. I feel like I can go to my dad with anything, and he can understand my side of the story because he was a football student-athlete at Auburn. He always has really good advice.”

“My dad (Dale) is my favorite person,” said freshman Savannah Murray. “He taught me everything. He is the reason why I play. In my family, I was the only girl. I had lots of boy cousins, and he told me how I should hold myself accountable, and how I should expect to be treated. He was the hardest coach I ever had. Mentally, he made me a stronger person, on and off the court.”

“We’re really close,” said freshman Mikayla Shields, whose father Brett was a former track star. “I love my dad. He is a rock in my life, like a lot of dads are. He is always there when I need him. He comes to a lot of my matches. He always encourages me to go after what I know I can be. He is a role model in my life.”

We try to let all of our recruits know that when you come to play volleyball at South Carolina, you’re joining a second family.

Scott Swanson, Head Coach

For South Carolina head coach Scott Swanson, who has two young daughters, the father-daughter relationship is a huge part of the family atmosphere within his program.

“My girls come to the matches, so it’s really fun,” Swanson said. “They love to see the girls and hang out with them. It’s really awesome that they get to look up to the great role models we have on our team. It’s fun to raise them in this atmosphere. We try to let all of our recruits know that when you come to play volleyball at South Carolina, you’re joining a second family. We want it to be a home away from home. Our coaches are going to help you mature through the whole process.”

Many parents travel long distances to watch their daughters compete, and also made other sacrifices to help their daughters succeed when they were younger. That commitment isn’t lost on the student-athletes

“I was a very active kid,” Shields said. “He took me to practices at six o’clock in the morning. He was my track coach, and last year during the state championships, I won the triple jump competition. I remember him coming over and telling me how all the work that we had put in was for that moment. We finally reached it, so that is a really good memory.”

“These parents love it,” Swanson said. “For some of them, it involves a lot of time and money to travel, but it seems like they’re always there to support their daughters and the team. It’s a cool feeling. The players really appreciate when they have that support from all angles.”

“My parents always make the home games, and they’ve come to a lot more away games than I thought,” Koehler said. “We used to all go together to watch my older sister when she played at the College of Charleston. My dad is so dedicated to our success.”

“When I know my dad is in the stands, it’s the best feeling,” Murray said. “It’s like being home. If I mess up, I know I can look at my dad and say ‘I got it. It’s OK.’ “