Oct. 25, 2010

by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Directory

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina freshman outside hitter Juliette Thévenin garnered her first weekly award of the season, as the Southeastern Conference selected her as the Freshman of the Week, the conference office released on Monday.

The Belgian standout led the Gamecocks in kills in both weekend matches. Her 17 kills on Friday night helped the Gamecocks take down the Kentucky Wildcats for the first time since 2006, while she had half of South Carolina’s output against No. 21 Tennessee with 14 on Sunday. Her .345 hitting percentage against UT ranks as her career best, while she also led the squad in digs for the first time in her career. She jumped back into the SEC stat rankings in kills, now standing fifth in all matches and eighth in SEC matches only.

Thévenin becomes the second Gamecock to earn the weekly award for freshman, with the first going to Megan Laughlin on Oct. 8, 2007.

South Carolina starts a four-match road trip on Wed., Oct. 27 at No. 1 Florida. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center and will be shown live on ESPNU.