Nov. 21, 2003

SEC Volleyball Tournament Central | Final Stats?|? Quotes

Third seed Alabama topped sixth seed South Carolina 3-0 (30-25, 30-22, 30-22) to advance to the semifinal round of the 2003 SEC Volleyball Tournament.

Outside hitter Erin Heffner led the Crimson Tide with 17 kills, while Jennifer Bibber tallied 15. Erin Price led the team in assists and blocks with 37 and eight, respectively.

The Tide fell behind in the first game as the Gamecocks rallied for an excited home crowd. But Alabama overcame a six-point deficit late in the game and went on a nine-point run, culminating with a streak of team-wide, point-scoring blocks to win the game 30-25.

In game two, Bibber and Heffner made their presence known early with a pair of huge blocks that helped set the Tide up 3-0. The lead was eventually stretched to eight until South Carolina responded with the help of freshman outside hitter Shonda Cole’s scorching cross-court attacks. Bibber, Heffner and company, however, continued to chip away at the Gamecocks, and reclaimed their eight-point lead with the game-winning kill, compliments of Heffner.

South Carolina put up a strong fight in the third round, keeping the score close through most of the game. The Gamecocks denied Alabama three straight match points until Bibber came up with a big kill to clinch the win for the Tide.

Alabama will face the winner of the last first-round match (Arkansas vs. LSU) in the semifinals.