March 21, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Gamecock volleyball team got its spring non-traditional competitions started at Duke last weekend, and the squad accomplished the goals of installing more of the new system and getting experience under new head coach Scott Swanson.

The work paid off, as South Carolina split sets against Duke and North Carolina during the event. Coach Swanson played a lot of different combinations of players during his first competition with his new team, trying to get everyone some time on the court and gauge where the players were in their development. The team still has some fundamental work to put in for the fall while also figuring out how to run the offensive and defensive system in the style coach Swanson is trying to establish.

When asked for highlights from the weekend, Swanson mentioned rising sophomores Megan Kent and Paige Wheeler as well as rising junior Taylor Bruns. “Megan did a nice job filling in on the left for us and carried the load while out there in place of Juliette (Thévenin). I liked what Paige did at libero. She anchored our serve-receive group all day. And Taylor had a nice day. She shows leadership by going hard after every ball. That kind of play is easy for teammates to follow.”

The Gamecocks play again this weekend at Wake Forest.