Aug. 8, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – The 2003 volleyball season is here and the South Carolina Gamecocks practiced for the first time on Friday with two-a-day workouts. With six newcomers, the Gamecocks will use the pre-season workout schedule to develop team chemistry, fine tune fundamentals and prepare for a challenging season. Leading Carolina is All-SEC selection Niece Curry and sophomores Sarah Morgan and Amy Benson. Two-a-day practices will be held in the Blatt P.E. Center on Saturday and will move to the Volleyball Practice Facility beginning Sunday. Practices are open to the public.

“I am so excited about this team already. They have good energy and good chemistry and that is so important,” said head coach Kim Hudson Christopher. “We have six athletes that are jumping over 10 feet and that is the first time we have ever had that happen.”

Earlier in the day, the Gamecocks also began their strength and conditioning program, in conjunction with the practices.

“This team is so eager to learn and they are absorbing everything that comes their way,” said Hudson Christopher. “That is a great indication of their commitment to the team.”

The Gamecocks open the season Aug. 29-30 at the Southern California Tournament in Los Angeles. Carolina will play two Top 25 teams during the weekend as they take on No. 9 Northern Iowa and the defending national champion, USC Women of Troy.