Aug 30, 2013
| Highlights |
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina volleyball team looked strong in its opening match of the 2013 season as it swept South Carolina State on Friday 25-14, 25-9 and 25-13 in the Gamecock Invitational at the Volleyball Competition Facility.
The Gamecocks delivered a stellar offensive performance, hitting .370 as a team. Senior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin led the way with 12 kills and six block assists. With the 12 kills, she moved into seventh on the school’s career kills list with 1,136 kills. Freshman Dessaa Legros added 10 kills in 15 (.667) attacks in her Gamecock debut. Sophomore Darian Dozier produced six kills and six block assists. Freshman setter Helen Récaborde delivered a match-high 14 assists, and sophomore setter Kellie McNeil dished out 13 assists.
Outside hitter Desire Waller led the way for South Carolina State as she tallied 10 kills, while setter Melanie Williams contributed 13 assists.
The Gamecocks set the tone early in set one, jumping out to a 9-2 lead. Back-to-back kills by Legros and Dozier later in the set put South Carolina ahead 14-3. South Carolina State was able to cut the Gamecocks’ lead below double digits on two occasions, with the last being 23-14 after a kill by Waller. Legros proceeded to close the set out in South Carolina’s favor as she delivered back-to-kills. Thévenin and Legros led the way with four kills apiece in the set.
South Carolina kept the momentum going in the second frame, building a 14-3 lead and extending its cushion to as many as 16 points on its way to the win. Legros added five more kills in the set to lead the attack, while Dozier made her presence felt at the net with four block assists.
The Gamecocks closed out the match with another strong showing in the third set, hitting .464 as a team. Thévenin opened the set with a kill to give South Carolina a lead it would not relinquish. Thévenin finished the frame with six kills, while freshman Katlyn McDaniel added four.
South Carolina returns to action later tonight at 7 as it is scheduled to face Florida International in the final match of the night.
