Aug. 14, 2002

Columbia, S.C. –
Volleyball Magazine and USA Today/AVCA recently released their 2002 pre-season polls and the South Carolina Gamecocks were among the noted. The Gamecocks were ranked No. 24 in Volleyball Magazine, while USA Today/AVCA had Carolina at No. 26.

In both polls, Stanford was picked No. 1, while USA Today picked Nebraska as the No. 2 team and Volleyball Magazine chose Hawaii. SEC Champion Florida is the highest ranked conference team with a No. 5 position on Volleyball Magazine’s list and a No. 7 ranking from USA Today.

South Carolina will face four other teams ranked in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches pre-season poll. The highest ranked team will be No. 5 Long Beach State, which are the 2001 NCAA Championship runners-up. Carolina will host No. 12 Pacific on Sept. 7 in the Carolina Classic. The Gamecocks will get their first taste of a Top 25 team in Michigan State Tournament when USC plays the Spartans on Aug. 31 in Lansing, Mich.

Last year, USC was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament when North Carolina defeated the Gamecocks 3-1. In the final 2001 poll, the Gamecocks received votes and were tied with Minnesota at No. 28.