Sept. 9, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. – South Carolina had three players with double-digit kills including a season high 19 kills but it wasn’t enough as the Gamecocks (2-4) fell to the arch-rival Clemson Tigers (3-5). South Carolina out hit the Tigers .249 to .226 and served up more aces (8-6), but committed more service errors (12-6) on the match. Game scores were 31-33, 26-30, 30-22, and 30-26.
“It came down to home court advantage and serving,” said Carolina Head Coach Kim Hudson Christopher. “Things were going Clemson’s way. This is a tough environment to play in and we got rattled. We are young but I still believe we are very good athletically. We will learn from this experience and continue to move forward.”
Clemson tallied four player in double-digit kills and tied the Gamecocks with nine team blocks. The match was close the entire way through as there were 22 ties and 12 lead changes in the four-game match. Lynae Vanden Hull notched 13 kills while Nicole Miller recorded 10 kills on the night for Carolina while Katelyn Panzau and Niece Curry each served up three aces.
Despite a 6-1 start in game one, the Gamecocks battled but came up short. Clemson tied the match 26-26 and the fight began. A kill by Lori Ashton gave the Tigers their first lead of the match at 27-26. Back-to-back kills by Lynae Vanden Hull put Carolina back in the lead momentarily, but a service error by Lauren Ford tied it back up for the Tigers. A kill by Curry gave Carolina a 29-28 lead but then an error by Curry tied the game again for the Tigers. Vanden Hull followed with another kill to go up 30-29 but she then followed with a service error to tie the game 30-30. Clemson was able to capitalize on another USC error and connected on block assists by Stephanie Haskell and Leslie Finn to take a 32-31 lead. A kill by Finn sealed the deal for the Tigers as they took game one 33-31 and a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Gamecocks outhit the Tigers .217 to .154 and recorded 21 kills to Clemson’s 19 but in the end it came down to blocks as Clemson recorded six block assists to Carolina’s four.
In game two, Carolina’s 4-1 lead would be the only lead they maintained as Clemson took advantage of the Gamecocks spotty defense to claim a 30-26 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. Carolina tied the match only twice in the game before the Tigers took control of the lead. Clemson outhit Carolina .265 to .174 and out dug the Gamecocks 25 to 19.
The Gamecocks kept the match alive as they took game three 30-22. Carolina never relinquished the lead and led by as many as eight. Morgan led the game for the Gamecocks are she recorded seven points on seven kills and hit .417. Carolina hit .295 to Clemson’s .214. Vanden Hull posted six kills in the game to hit .545. After registering only three aces and seven service errors in the first two games, Carolina found their serve in game three as they recorded five, three by Curry, and only had two service errors.
In game four, Carolina tied the game 25-25 on a kill by Morgan and took a 26-25 lead on block assists by Katelyn Panzau and Ford. But it wasn’t enough as the Tigers fought back and went on 5-0 run to close out a 30-16 win and the 3-1 match win.
The Gamecocks travel to South Bend, Ind. this weekend to play in the Shamrock Invitational at Notre Dame. Carolina opens against Utah on Friday at 4:30 p.m. (CT).
