Oct. 25, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Gamecock volleyball team returns to action Wednesday night as they host the defending co-SEC Champion Tennessee Lady Vols at 7 p.m. in the Volleyball Competition Facility. South Carolina is 10-9 and 3-6 in the SEC while UT is 12-7 and 6-3. In the SEC standings, USC is seventh and the Lady Vols are fourth.

South Carolina is hoping to snap a four-match losing streak to the Lady Vols and record their first win against UT since 2002. The series is tied 22-22, marking the 45th meeting between the two teams. USC is currently fourth in the SEC East, while Tennessee is second. The Gamecocks are coming off of a loss to Kentucky and UT is coming off of a close 3-0 win over the Wildcats.

Tennessee is led by SEC Player of the Week, Kristen Andre. Andre is hitting .400 and leads the conference in this category. Yuliya Stoyanova leads the SEC in kills and setter Julie Knytych is second in the conference in assists with 12.95 per game.

As a team, Tennessee ranks third in the conference and USC follows in fourth in hitting percentage. The Gamecocks are second in the conference in blocks with UT standing in the fourth spot.

On the record watch, senior Sarah Morgan is just 36 digs shy of cracking USC’s all-time digs leader list. Shonda Cole is three shy of 300 kills for the season and needs 44 kills to reach the 1,000 career mark.

In their last five games, the Gamecocks are 1-4 and are hitting .180 to their opponents’ .260. Lauren Ford leads the team in hitting with .282 and Cole leads in kills with 3.39 per game. USC has outblocked its opponents 50-42 and recorded more service aces 31-28.

Wednesday is also Mini Spa Day. Fans can come and receive make-up and hair tips from stylists from Logan Raye. Admission is $1 with a business card.