March 6, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Volleyball Head Coach Nancy Somera announced the Gamecocks’ 2006 spring schedule Monday. USC will compete in three tournaments — one of which it will host in mid-April — in Charlotte, N.C., and Aurora, Ill.

South Carolina’s first weekend of competition takes place Saturday, April 1, in Charlotte in a tournament hosted by the Charlotte 49ers. The North Carolina Tar Heels, who finished 23-10 last year and won the Atlantic Coast Conference with an 18-4 mark, will be among the teams competing in addition to USC and the host 49ers.

The Garnet and Black will host a tourney Saturday, April 15. Other teams participating include College of Charleston and Clemson. Charleston went 32-2 in 2005, running the table in the Southern Conference with an 18-0 slate. The Cougars also registered a win over North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Gamecocks wrap up the spring campaign in Aurora at the 2006 Spring College Tournament hosted by The Great Lakes Center. The one-day event on Saturday, April 22, will feature some of the best teams from around the nation including 2005 NCAA Elite 8 teams Arizona and Wisconsin, and Sweet 16 squads Purdue, Louisville and Ohio. Other notables from last year’s NCAA Tournament are Ohio State, North Carolina and Northwestern.

South Carolina notched a 13-14 record last year and was 5-11 in the Southeastern Conference. Junior outside hitter Shonda Cole was named second-team All-SEC and tabbed honorable mention All-South Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was also recently chosen for the USA Women’s National A2 Team.

USC will begin spring practice Monday, March 13, and continue working until completion of the Spring College Tournament.