Aug. 9, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin has been named to the preseason All-SEC Team, the conference office announced Friday.

Thévenin, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2012, looks to close out her Gamecock career in strong fashion after ranking second in SEC play in both kills per set (4.40) and points per set (4.81) a year ago.

“Juliette making All-SEC was expected from me,” South Carolina head coach Scott Swanson said. “When she’s the one player every team scouted to stop and she ranks second in the conference in kills and points, that tells you how good of a player she is. It means we get some respect for our program and for our three-time MVP. We are hoping she has a great senior season. She is very, very deserving of the award. She has stepped up to be a senior leader for us in the offseason and is making sure we are ready for the fall. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Thévenin’s 2012 numbers in kills (453), kills per set (4.31) and attacks (1,073) ranked second all-time for a single season at South Carolina in the rally-scoring era. Entering the 2013 season, she is in the top 10 in four career categories in the Gamecock record book, ranking second in kills per set (3.89), fourth in points per set (4.30) and eighth in both kills (1,124) and attacks (2,903).

Seven different schools are represented on the nine-member team, which is voted on by the league’s head coaches. No ties were broken. Florida and Missouri led all schools with two selections each. Auburn, Kentucky, LSU and Texas A&M also had a student-athlete named to the team. Eight of the nine players selected were named All-SEC First or Second Team in 2012.

South Carolina will open the 2013 season at home as they are set to host the Gamecock Invitational on Aug. 30-31 at the Volleyball Competition Facility. Thévenin and the Gamecocks will also hold the Garnet & Black match on Aug. 24, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the VCF.

Preseason All-SEC Team    Pos.           Ht.             Cl.Camila Jersonsky, Auburn    MB          5-11        Sr.Chloe Mann, Florida         MB          6-2         Sr.?iva Recek, Florida     OH          6-0         So.Whitney Billings, Kentucky  RS          6-2         Sr.Desiree Elliott, LSU        MB          6-0         Sr.Lisa Henning, Missouri      OH          6-0         Sr.Molly Kreklow, Missouri     S           6-0         Sr.Juliette Thévenin, SC    OH            6-1         Sr.Allie Sawatzky, Texas A&M   S           6-2         Sr.