Sept. 20, 2003
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Lynae Vanden Hull tied a career high with 21 kills while Lauren Ford added 14 kills and Katelyn Panzau served up five aces as South Carolina (6-6) squashed the George Washington (10-2) rally late to pull out the 3-2 win at the Gamecock Invitational Saturday. Game scores were 30-20, 30-22, 27-30, 27-30, 15-9.
“After the second GW timeout, we definitely came alive in game five,” said Carolina Head Coach Kim Hudson Christopher. “Being 6-6 with this tough non-conference schedule is definitely something to be happy about, something we can build on. We’ve got a bright future ahead of us. Tomorrow is our first day off and it will be good to have a break before our tough conference schedule. Lynae is eager and wants to be a great player. I’ve definitely enjoyed coaching her.”
South Carolina served 14 aces and held the Colonials to a .071 hitting percentage while recording nine total team blocks. Iris Santos added 10 kills for the Gamecocks while Nicole Miller led the defensive effort with 20 digs.
South Carolina jumped out to an early 15-6 lead and kept on firing, leading by as many as 10, winning game one 30-20. Iris Santos and Lynae Vanden Hull both posted five kills, leading the Gamecocks. Carolina hit .308 and held George Washington to -.024 hitting percentage. The Colonials recorded five service aces while Carolina served up two.
Game two was much closer than game one as the game witnessed six ties and three lead changes. Shonda Cole stepped up and led Carolina with four kills while Katelyn Panzau served up four of USC’s six aces in game two. Neither team hit well in game two as the Gamecocks hit .043 while the Colonials hit -.048. The Garnet and Black jumped out to a 19-11 lead, but George Washington fought back to pull within three at 22-19. Three would be as close as George Washington would get as Carolina won game two 30-22.
George Washington came alive in game three, hitting .220 as Sarah Hokom led the Colonials with five kills. Vanden Hull led Carolina with six kills in the game, hitting .455 while Ford recorded four kills, hitting .500. The game was a battle back and forth the entire way through as there were 13 ties and eight lead changes but the Colonials came out on top 30-27 to force a fourth game.
George Washington jumped out to a quick 20-12 lead over the Gamecocks, forcing Carolina to fight back. USC came as close as 27-25 and 29-27 but a Hokom kill sealed the 30-27 game four win for George Washington and forcing a deciding fifth game. South Carolina hit .250 in game four while the Colonials hit .167 but two block solos by Laura Harrison helped seal the win.
The Gamecocks recovered in the break between games four and five and blitzed by George Washington to a 10-5 lead in game five. South Carolina hit .250 in game four while George Washington only hit .043 and committed three service errors.
South Carolina begins conference play next weekend, traveling to LSU Friday night then taking on the Lady Backs at Arkansas Sunday.
