Nov. 7, 2003

Columbia, S.C – The South Carolina volleyball team returns home to finish out SEC play beginning Sunday when the Gamecocks (12-13, 6-7 SEC) host the Tennessee Lady Vols (17-7, 7-5 SEC). Match time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. (EST) at the Volleyball Competition Facility. USC is coming off of a thrilling mid-week win over Kentucky and is currently seventh in the SEC. The Gamecocks hope to even the series against Tennessee and improve to a .500 record. The Garnet and Black fell to the Lady Vols 3-1 in Knoxville back on Oct. 10.

The Lady Vols defeated Georgia last weekend to move into second place in the SEC East. Tennessee will play Kentucky Friday night before they come to Columbia for the match-up with the Gamecocks.

The Gamecocks are 5-4 in home matches this season and 3-2 in SEC home matches. The only time USC has lost three SEC matches at home was in 1993. Freshman setter Katelyn Panzau continues to do well for Carolina. The Belleville, Ill. native has 920 assists on the season and needs just 80 to reach the 1,000 mark. Panzau would become only the fifth setter in Gamecock history to record 1,000 assists as a freshman.

USC is hoping to connect back-to-back wins for the first time since early October when they defeated Mississippi State and Kentucky.

South Carolina leads the series between the two teams 22-19 while head coach Kim Christopher is 18-5 against the Lady Vols. The Gamecocks have not lost a season series to Tennessee since 1993. That year, the Lady Vols defeated USC all three matches.

Sunday is also “Gamecock Kids Book Drive” Day. Fans are asked to bring a children’s book to donate to Heartworks and get in for $1 admission.