Oct. 19, 2012
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. – South Carolina (15-7, 3-7 SEC) posted a dominating sweep at Mississippi State (4-15, 0-10 SEC), taking the sets 25-9, 25-15, 25-9, at Humphrey Coliseum on Friday night.
Gamecock junior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin posted a match-best 15 kills without an error, hitting .556 in the contest. Freshman middle blocker Darian Dozier set a personal best with a .600 hitting percentage on a career-best tying 10 kills. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Cara Howley had a career-best five of the Gamecocks’ nine aces, a season best for South Carolina, while junior libero Paige Wheeler led everyone with 16 digs. Outside hitters Jenna Allen and Bethanie Thomas added 14 and 13 digs, respectively. Senior setter Taylor Bruns compiled 35 assists and nine digs.
Lainey Wyman led Mississippi State with eight kills. Alex Scott and Chanelle Baker tied for the Bulldogs’ best with 11 digs.
The Gamecocks took the first set 25-9, hitting .476 and not letting the Bulldogs get consecutive points in the frame. Thévenin posted six kills on six swings to lead the way. Howley had three aces in the nine-point stand that blew open the set.
South Carolina won the second 25-15, getting seven kills from Thévenin without an error. A four-point stand that included two points from both Thévenin and Thomas made it 13-6, and the Gamecocks ended the frame with a 5-1 run, a Howley ace capping it. Allen added five kills in the frame, and Wheeler had seven digs.
The third set also went to the Gamecocks, 25-9. Dozier and fellow rookie middle blocker Elizabeth Johnbull combined for nine kills in the frame. South Carolina’s defense held Mississippi State to a .000 hitting percentage in the set.
The Gamecocks hit .402 in the win, while the Bulldogs hit just .074. The Gamecocks also won every stat category.
The Gamecocks end the Magnolia State swing on Sunday at Mississippi. The match starts at 1 p.m. EDT, and Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) will televise the contest. It may also be found on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app.
