Gamecocks Lose at No. 15 Kentucky
The SEC's leading defensive unit held South Carolina to a season low for hitting percentage and second-lowest kill total
LEXINGTON, KY. – South Carolina lost in straight sets at No. 15 Kentucky Friday night, 25-14, 25-19, 25-19. The Gamecock offense hit for a season-low .099 percentage, but got strong nights from Mikayla Shields (11 kills) and libero Addie Bryant (18 digs).
SET ONE: The Gamecocks were error-prone from the start in set one, with four attack errors and two service errors allowing Kentucky to jump ahead 13-3. The Wildcats would not commit an attack error until they had already built an 18-6 lead, and out-hit Carolina .353 to .049. The Gamecocks showed fight down the stretch, scoring eight of the final 15 points of the set for a 25-14 final score.
SET TWO: Kills on their first three attacks of the game put the Gamecocks ahead early in set two, but Kentucky’s offense would not stay quiet for long. The Wildcats pulled away little by little from a 10-all tie for a 25-19 margin. The South Carolina defense would be stronger in set two, but the offense was unable to put balls away and were doubled up in kills, 16-8, by the home side.
SET THREE: The two sides traded leads early on, but Kentucky was able to make the key push midway through the set to secure a 25-19 victory and close out the match. Out of a 12-12 score, the Wildcats scored nine of the next 12 total points in the set and matched Carolina point-for-point the rest of the way. It would be the strongest set offensively for South Carolina, with 14 total kills, but Kentucky held a .300 to .167 advantage in hitting percentage in the set.
NEXT UP: The team returns home for a national TV game on Sunday, hosting Mississippi State at 1 p.m. in the Carolina Volleyball Center. It will be the team’s Dig Pink match, any fans in attendance wearing pink can purchase tickets for just $1. The match will air on ESPNU, with Tyler Denning (PxP) and Camryn Irwin (Color) on the call.
