Sept. 13, 2014
BUIES CREEK, N.C. — The South Carolina volleyball team swept Elon by the scores of 25-12, 25-15 and 25-16 on Saturday morning in the Campbell Invitational at Gore Arena, giving Gamecock head coach Scott Swanson his 100th career victory and his 50th victory at South Carolina.
With the win the Gamecocks improve to 6-2 on the season. The Phoenix fall to 3-6 with the loss. Swanson is now 100-112 in eight seasons as a head coach, including a 50-51 mark in his fourth season at South Carolina.
South Carolina finished the morning with the advantage in every statistical category, out-hitting the Phoenix .320-.068 and holding the edge in kills (40-30), assists (38-29), digs (57-40) and blocks (6-3).
Sophomore KoKo Atoa-Williams paced the Gamecocks with a match-high 11 kills and added six digs and two blocks. Freshman outside hitter Taylr McNeil contributed 10 kills while hitting .364 and five digs. Junior middle blocker Darian Dozier pitched in five kills, four digs and a match-high three blocks. Freshman setter Allie Monserez recorded a double-double, distributing 25 assists and collecting 10 digs, while senior libero Mikaela Christiaansen finished with 13 digs and nine assists.
Freshman outside hitter Sydney Busa led Elon with seven kills, while senior Danielle Smith finished with six kills. Setter Ana Nicksic tallied 18 assists, and libero Morgan Maner finished with 13 digs.
South Carolina played one of its best sets of the year in the first set, hitting .500 as a team with just one attack error, and never trailed on its way to a 25-12 lead. The Gamecocks trailed 5-4 early in the second set but used a 9-2 run to take a lead they would not relinquish. Carolina closed strong by jumping out to an 8-2 lead in the third set and led by as many as 12 points on its way to winning the match.
Match Changer
The Gamecocks set the tone of the match early as they jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first set, including three kills by Taylr McNeil, and never looked back on their way to a 25-12 win.
Key Stat
Carolina hit .500 in the first set, recording just one attack error in 34 attack attempts. For the match, the Gamecocks hit a season-best .320.
Notables
• The win is the 100th of head coach Scott Swanson’s career and his 50th at South Carolina. Swanson is now 100-112 in eight seasons as a head coach, including a 50-51 record with the Gamecocks.
• The Gamecocks hit a season-best .320. Carolina hit .500 in the first set with just one attack error on 34 attempts.
• Freshman setter Allie Monserez recorded her second career double-double with 25 assists and 10 digs.
• Carolina never trailed in the first and third sets.
Tweet of the Match
This morning’s win was @GamecockVBcoach‘s 100th of his career & his 50th at Carolina.. Congrats coach! #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/XZCTu1CzxM
— Gamecock Volleyball (@GamecockVolley) September 13, 2014
Quotable
South Carolina head coach Scott Swanson
Opening Statement
“We played extremely clean with only one hitting error in that first set. Everything was firing on all cylinders. We passed at 2.6 out of a three average. I definitely think that was one of our best ball control and efficiency matches of the year so far. I’m very proud of their effort on that. We are getting more and more focused.”
On the win being the 100th of his career and 50th at South Carolina
“I’m excited that the direction of the program is headed the way we want it. We are definitely excited about getting more wins faster in the future. I know it was the 50th at South Carolina. I hope to tack on 15 or 20 more this season. We are going in the right direction. It’s all about the culture change and the investment of our players willing to do what we are asking them to do so we are all on the same page and playing hard. I have a great staff that’s helping me with all the details. It’s one of the best I think. I’m super lucky to have everybody that I have around me.”
Up Next
The Gamecocks will close out the Campbell Invitational this afternoon against North Florida. First serve is set for 4:30 at Gore Arena.
