Gamecock Volleyball 18th in First RPI Rankings of the Season
The team is 13-1 overall and also receiving votes in the AVCA's Coaches Poll
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina volleyball team checked in at No. 18 in the first RPI rankings of the season, released by the NCAA on Monday afternoon. The Gamecocks, standing at 13-1 overall and 4-0 in SEC play, are one of two SEC programs to crack the top-25 for RPI, joining Kentucky. The team also received 11 votes in the weekly coaches top-25 poll, released today by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), third-most among teams outside the top-25.
“I’m excited for the team that we’re in that conversation and being recognized, but our focus is on getting better and preparing for a good Missouri team on Friday,” head coach Tom Mendoza said.
South Carolina was last ranked in the coaches top-25 poll in 2002 and ended the 2017 season ranked 156th in the RPI standings. The Gamecocks have won nine matches in a row, highlighted by a pair of SEC road wins last weekend against Alabama (ranked 27th in RPI) and Georgia (29th). They are 5-1 against teams currently ranked in the top-100 of the RPI.
The team has a challenging week ahead, starting with a 7:30 p.m. ET match at Missouri (12-4, 2-2 SEC) and then a 1:30 match against Texas A&M (10-5, 3-0 SEC) on Sunday at home in the Carolina Volleyball Center. Sunday will be the team’s Dig Pink match, fans wearing pink to the game can purchase tickets for just $1.
