Nov. 6, 2003

By Matthew Shoultz, USC Sports Information

The transition from high school to college can be a difficult move for any student. Lexi Thomson is no exception. Hailing from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, Thomson can claim that her transition to the South was much more than the average student. The talented freshman has been enjoying her time here while getting acclimated to a higher level of volleyball that includes greater expectations.

“Like any other freshman you come and they basically tear down everything that you have learned before and make you start over again,” said Thomson. “At first that was hard but now I am getting used to it and we are in a rhythm. I also really like the coaches and the girls on the team.”

Thomson chose the Gamecocks because they were a top notch program in a quality conference. But like most people from the north, there were a few other factors that made it a relatively easy decision.

“I chose USC because they had the highest level of volleyball of all the schools that I was being recruited by,” said Lexi. “Another reason I chose USC is because it is in the south, and I really wanted to get away from the snow that is in Canada. I like the weather more than anything in South Carolina. Coming from a cold climate it is really nice here. I like the humidity.”

Thomson enjoys spending time with her teammates and coaches both on and off the court and looks forward to her future here with the Gamecocks. The freshman setter has big goals both individually and as a team.

“Individually, I want to beat our team manager Ashley (Edlund) and her stats because she seems to be leading in every category. It would also be pretty cool to make All-SEC. As a team, I want to beat Florida and win the SEC championship. That would be a great feeling.”

Coming from Canada, where hockey is life for many of its citizens, Thomson enjoys the sport but isn’t nearly as crazy about the national past time. She instead opts to sing which comes at the expense of her teammates.

“I am kind of a fan of hockey. I always root for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but I’m not as big of a fan as most people in Canada,” said Lexi. “I really like singing and the girls on the team will tell you that. They tell me to be quiet a lot of times.”

Thomson really appreciates the closeness of both the players and coaches on team and believes that can lead them to the top of the SEC.

“This is the closest team that I have been on. Everyone likes each other and we get along great,” said Thomson. “The coaches are really supportive and patient. They give me information to help me out but not so much that I would go crazy. It is a really good combination of being connected both on the court and off the court.”

Thomson and the Gamecocks will continue their season this weekend as the Gamecocks host Tennessee on Sunday in SEC conference play.