Sept. 27, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The South Carolina volleyball team dropped a three-set decision at undefeated Missouri on Friday night by the scores of 25-16, 25-14 and 25-18 at the Hearnes Center in the SEC opener for both squads.
Senior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin led the Gamecocks (8-5, 0-1 SEC) with 10 kills. Thévenin, who has recorded double figures in kills in 10 straight matches, moved to third on South Carolina’s career kills list with 1,353. Freshman Dessaa Legros added seven kills and one block assist, while sophomore Darian Dozier finished with four kills and three block assists. Sophomore setter Kellie McNeil distributed 21 assists in the loss. As a team the Gamecocks hit .132 for the match and finished with four blocks.
Missouri (16-0, 1-0) hit .559 for the match and tallied 8.5 blocks. Senior outside hitter Lisa Henning led the Tigers’ attack with 14 kills and added four blocks, while freshman Carly Kan finished with 13 kills. Senior setter Molly Kreklow dished out 35 assists on the night and finished with a double-double as she also collected 11 digs. Junior middle blocker Whitney Little led Missouri in blocks with five.
The Gamecocks and Tigers went back and forth early in the first set, playing to a 10-10 tie. After Missouri went ahead 12-10 on a Henning kill and a service ace, South Carolina went on a quick 3-0 run capped by a block by sophomore Sarah Blomgren and Dozier that gave the Gamecocks a 13-12 lead. However, the Tigers answered with a 13-3 run to win the set 25-16.
After Missouri took a 7-6 lead early in the second set, the Gamecocks went on a 4-0 run behind three kills by Thévenin to take a 10-7 lead. The teams then played to a 12-12 tie before the Tigers went on a 13-2 run to win the set and take a 2-0 lead.
In the third set, Missouri built a 15-11 lead, but the Gamecocks fought back to pull to within 17-15 on a kill by sophomore Elizabeth Johnbull. But that was as close as South Carolina was able to get, as the Tigers finished the set on an 8-3 run to win the match.
South Carolina returns to action on Sunday at Tennessee. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn.
