Nov. 14, 2003
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Shonda Cole notched 12 kills but No. 3 Florida had three in double digit kills, including senior Aury Cruz with 22, as the Gators beat the Gamecocks 3-0 Friday night. Florida (27-1, 15-0 Southeastern Conference) hit .316 and continued their streak of 24 consecutive conference match sweeps. Freshman setter Katelyn Panzau became only the fifth Gamecock to record 1,000 assists in her freshman year, ending the match with her 1,000th assist.
The Gamecocks recorded seven total team blocks on the match while Florida only managed three. Florida was still without their top blocker, Benavia Jenkins, who was injured during the Oct. 26 South Carolina-Florida match in Gainesville, Fla. Game scores of Friday’s match were 30-23, 30-25, and 30-17.
“This is the hardest I’ve seen this team play all year,” said Carolina Head Coach Kim Hudson Christopher. “Even when we were down in the third game, we still stuck in there and played hard. Tonight was a team effort; however, Shonda Cole had a great match. Florida has a great program, but their offense is mostly centered around senior Aury Cruz.”
Game one was close throughout the entire way as there were nine tie scores and four lead changes. Cole led the way for Carolina with five kills while Cruz and Sherri Williams each posted five kills for Florida. Lynae Vanden Hull aided the Gamecock effort with three kills, hitting .429. Game one ended with a 30-23 victory for the Gators.
Game two witnessed Carolina hitting a match best .283 but Florida hit .317 and Cruz had 10 kills for Florida. Cole posted six kills for Carolina as USC fell in another close, exciting game, 30-25.
Panzau entered the Carolina record books late in game three as Sarah Morgan notched a kill as USC was down 26-17 and Panzau received the 1,000th assist of the season. All was not glory as Florida served up five of their 12 service aces of the match in the game and Carolina only hit .143 in the game that witnessed a 30-17 game three Florida win and match win.
South Carolina hosts Georgia as they close out the 2003 regular season Sunday at 1:30 p.m. It will be Senior Day and USC will honor Mariana Branquinho.
