Oct. 8, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina middle blocker Megan Laughlin earned the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week award after her outstanding play during last week’s matches for the Gamecocks, the league office announced today.

Laughlin led the team in hitting percentage against both Tennessee and Kentucky. She hit .500 with 15 kills, three aces and three blocks in the 3-1 win over the Lady Vols, before matching her career high with 17 kills to go with three more aces and four blocks against the Wildcats. The Cornell, Ill., native leads South Carolina in points and aces on the year and ranks second in kills per game, hitting percentage and blocks per game. She has also posted double-digit kills in each of her last four matches.

Laughlin is the first Gamecock volleyball player to receive the weekly freshman award since its inception in 2005. This is the first weekly honor from the SEC this season for the Gamecocks and the first since Shonda Cole’s last of her three Offensive Player of the Week certificates in 2006.

The Gamecocks take on No. 6 Florida on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Stephen F. O’Connell Center in a match televised by Sun Sports TV.