Oct. 30, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina volleyball team dropped a straight-set match to Texas A&M Sunday afternoon, 20-25, 18-25, 19-25. The loss moves the Gamecocks back to 15-7, 3-7 in SEC play, while the Aggies won their third straight and are now 14-7 overall (8-2 SEC).
1st Set: The Aggies claimed the opening set with a wire-to-wire win, 25-20, using a sizable early lead to hold off Carolina. Texas A&M hit .433 as a team in the set (16-3-30) and carried a 15-8 lead into the media timeout. The Gamecocks rallied late to get as close as three, 22-19, but could not get the side-outs needed to get any closer. Courtney Furlong, making her first start of the year, led the team with five kills in the game.
2nd Set: South Carolina held a lead to start the second set, but a number of Aggie runs kept the Gamecocks from evening the match. Texas A&M had three separate runs of four points or better in the set, pulling away late for the 25-18 win. South Carolina’s offense hit just .079 in the game, with Dessaa Legros’ three kills leading the home side.
3rd Set: Needing a win in the third to extend the match, the Gamecocks scrapped early on but again could not get an long scoring run to command the lead. Still, it was a 12-11 South Carolina lead mid-way through before another run for the Aggies shut the door on a fourth set. Texas A&M ran off eight-straight points to go ahead 19-12, and the Gamecocks could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Stat of the Match
Texas A&M committed only one fewer error than South Carolina for the match, but was more efficient with its swings, out-hitting the Gamecocks .317-.167.
Notable
- Dessaa Legros followed up her 26-kill performance vs. LSU with a team-high 12 kills. The senior also hit .333 over her 27 attacks.
- The Gamecock servers showed a tougher offering Sunday, finishing with four aces and just four errors. It was the most by the team since Oct. 7 at Georgia, a span of five matches.
- Jacqy Angermiller’s six total blocks are tied for a season high, and her five block assists are the most the senior has had all season.
- Courtney Furlong earned her first start of the season, and the sophomore finished with six kills and four block assists.
Up Next
It will be a split weekend for the team next time out, as it travels to Starkville for a Friday night match at Mississipi State before returning home Sunday for a 12:30 match against Georgia. That Sunday match is a make up for the lost home match on Oct. 7 due to Hurricane Matthew.
