Oct. 1, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball lost a close one Friday night as the Gamecocks fell 3-2 to the Kentucky Wildcats. USC falls to 8-5, 1-3 in the SEC while Kentucky recorded their first SEC win of the season and improved to 10-4 and 1-2. Game scores were 30-28, 24-30, 25-30, 30-28, 16-14. Sarah Morgan and Shonda Cole both had 17 kills for the Gamecocks.
“We needed consistency with out setters tonight and we just didn’t get it,” said head coach Kim Hudson. “We need a rest. We are tired. We had a late night Wednesday and we have been going at it hard, but we will make it.”
The loss still keeps USC winless on a Friday night this season despite out hitting the Wildcats .201 to .177. Game five was the pivotal point as Carolina jumped out on top early but UK continued to keep it close. Up 12-11, an error by Cole tied it for Kentucky and another error by USC put the Wildcats up by one. USC then tied it again and moved ahead on a kill by Iris Santos but a service error, USC’s 13th on the night, tied it for the Wildcats 14-14. From the, Kentucky would go on to score and clinched the victory on a kill by Melissa Popp.
Of the matches the Gamecocks lost, they were all within two points. This marks the first time USC has lost to Kentucky since 1999, snapping a eight-match win streak.
Redshirt freshman Crystal Johnson saw action in games three and four. She recorded three kills, a block solo and a block assist.
“Crystal always does a good job in practice,” said Hudson. “She provided a spark for us but unfortunately we could pull it out.”
The Gamecocks will have the rest of the weekend off and return to action on Friday when they travel to Oxford, Miss. for part two of the Ole Miss series. USC will not play home again until Oct. 22 when they host Georgia.
