Nov. 21, 2010
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Despite a fourth-consecutive double-double from freshman standout Juliette Thévenin, the South Carolina Gamecocks (7-22, 4-15 SEC) could not overtake Arkansas (14-16, 8-11 SEC), as the Razorbacks claimed a four-set win, 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 25-17, on Sunday afternoon in Barnhill Arena.
Thévenin posted 18 kills and 10 digs to lead the Gamecocks. Senior Hannah Lawing added 12 kills and 13 digs. Freshman middle blocker Frankie Vain added seven kills on a .600 hitting percentage with four block assists. Janeliss Torres had 22 kills and hit .556, while Kelli Stipanovich had 10. Brooke Fournier had a match-high 15 digs.
Arkansas ran out to a 10-5 lead in the first that it would never relinquish, but the Gamecocks made things interesting. Three times, South Carolina drew within one, included the last at 21-20 when Vain put down an overpass. But the Hogs took four of the last five points, getting two kills and a block assist from Torres to clinch it, 25-21. Torres had six kills in the first, while Vain put away three without an error for the Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks held the lead for most of the second set, as they tried to pull away with a 7-2 stretch that made it 20-14. That stretch included back-to-back aces from Thévenin and consecutive kills from Lawing. But the Razorbacks would not go away, fighting back to within one at 20-19 after a five-point stand. Three more times the Hogs would get that close, but the Gamecocks closed out the set at 25-23 on Thévenin’s cross-court rip. Thévenin had six kills with four digs and Lawing added five kills in the second.
An extremely tight third set went Arkansas way at the end, 26-24. Neither team sustained more than a two-point run until the final moments, as the Razorbacks got four straight to end the frame. The Gamecocks got a chance at the set first, but the Razorbacks got a dump from Raymariely Santos and kills from Kendall Cleveland and Torres to arrive at set point. South Carolina could not get the final attack over the net, giving Arkansas the frame. That negated a great frame from Thévenin, who had six kills, and Lawing, who posted seven digs.
The Razorbacks rode the momentum throughout most of the fourth, running to a 16-9 lead. The Gamecocks made a stand to draw within four, but Arkansas responded with five of the next six points to take the air out of South Carolina. The Hogs closed the set at 25-17 with back-to-back kills by Torres.
Arkansas won nearly every stat category on the night, including a .268-.197 advantage in hitting percentage. The two teams tied with four service aces each.
South Carolina closes the 2010 season on Friday, Nov. 26 against No. 1 Florida. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the Volleyball Competition Facility.
