Nov. 22, 2013
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The South Carolina volleyball team fell in three sets on Friday night in SEC play at Arkansas, as the Razorbacks won by the scores of 25-13, 25-21 and 25-14 at Barnhill Arena.
With the loss, the Gamecocks are now 12-17 on the season and 3-13 in the SEC. Arkansas improves to 15-12 overall and 8-8 in league play.
Freshman Dessaa Legros paced the Gamecocks with eight kills, while sophomore middle blocker Darian Dozier and senior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin pitched in seven and six kills, respectively. Sophomore Elizabeth Johnbull and sophomore Sarah Blomgren contributed four and three kills, respectively. In her first start at setter for South Carolina, junior Michaela Christiaansen distributed 28 kills and had five digs.
The Razorbacks finished the night with the edge in hitting (.374-.109), kills (46-30) and digs (39-25). Junior outside hitter Meredith Hays led Arkansas with 12 kills, while Barbara Dapic and Ana Sofia Jusino added eight kills each. Jusino and Danielle Harbin finished with a match-high six blocks each, while senior setter Raymariely Santos had 28 assists and seven digs.
The Gamecocks got off to a strong start, jumping out to a 4-1 lead behind a pair of service aces from Christiaansen. But Arkansas answered with a 15-4 run to take control of the set on its way to a 25-13 win. The Razorbacks hit .536 and had four blocks for the frame.
South Carolina built a 6-2 lead early in the second set, as Thévenin and Dozier contributed two kills apiece. After the Razorbacks fought back with a 7-1 run to take a 9-7 lead, the Gamecocks went on a 3-1 spurt capped by a Legros kill to tie the match at 10-10. Arkansas seemed to take control of the set by building a 19-12 lead, but South Carolina refused to go away as it battled back with an 8-3 run, trimming Arkansas’ lead to 22-20 on a Razorback attack error. However, Arkansas went on a claim the set 25-21 to build a 2-0 lead.
The Gamecocks fell behind 8-3 in the third set but were able to pull to within 9-7 on a kill by Blomgren. However, Arkansas pulled away for a 25-14 win.
South Carolina will be back in action on Sunday against LSU in its final home match of the season. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Volleyball Competition Facility. The Gamecocks will hold a Senior Day ceremony following the match for Thévenin and defensive specialist Lindsey Craft.
