Sept. 4, 2008

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Carolina Gamecocks continue the 2008 volleyball season at the University of Rhode Island-hosted Art Carmichael Invitational. The Garnet and Black take on Boston College (11 a.m.) and URI (7 p.m.) on Friday and Stony Brook (12 p.m.) on Saturday.

South Carolina enters the tournament with a 2-1 record, with both victories coming over 2007 NCAA Tournament participants. Redshirt senior middle blocker Belita Salters and junior outside hitter Ivana Kujundzic both earned ASU Sheraton Classic All-Tournament honors last weekend. Sophomore middle blocker Megan Laughlin leads the team with a .343 hitting percentage.

The Eagles finished with a 2-1 mark in last weekend’s Colgate Classic. BC returns six letter-winners from a squad that finished 14-18 a year ago.

The Rhode Island Rams enter the tournament with a 2-2 record. Caitlyn Welsh led the squad on the opening weekend with 3.00 kills per set. The squad also averages 1.6 digs-per-set more than the opposition, helped by libero Peggie Doino’s 4.73 mark.

Stony Brook starts the week with a 2-1 mark and are led by Turkey native Gulce Nazil Dikecligil, who hit at a .378 mark on the opening weekend while compiling 5.00 kills per set. Libero Michelle Burrola holds a 4.00 digs-per-set average. Jessica Graham already has 11 aces on the young season, helping the Seawolves nearly double up their opponents in that category.

The Gamecocks have a history against two of their opponents on the weekend. South Carolina owns a 2-0 mark against Boston College, including a 3-0 win last season. The Rams have beaten the Gamecocks twice in three meetings, but the Garnet and Black took the last match in 1987. South Carolina and Stony Brook have never met in volleyball.

Rhode Island is providing live stats for its matches only, and a link is located on www.GamecocksOnline.com.