Three Gamecocks Make Postseason All-Conference Teams

BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The Southeastern Conference announced its 2021 volleyball postseason awards Sunday, with three members of the South Carolina Gamecocks making the two teams. Kyla Manning and MikaylaRobinson made the 18-woman All-SEC team and Lauren McCutcheon is part of the seven-woman All-Freshman team. This is the first time since 2002 that the Gamecocks received three or more postseason honors from the conference’s coaches.
 
“We couldn’t be happier for all three, it’s getting harder every year to earn SEC recognition as the conference keeps getting stronger top to bottom,” head coach Tom Mendoza said. “Kyla and Mikayla are two of the elite players in their positions not just in the conference but across the country. They’ve set a great standard for the program and for their younger teammates. They should both be incredibly proud of what they have achieved in a South Carolina uniform.

Manning fit a prolific career into just two seasons and 50 games played at South Carolina. The graduate student led the team with 350 kills this season, tied for 10th-most in a season in the rally-scoring era, while taking almost 300 more swings than any other hitter on the team. She compiled over 600 kills, 375 digs, 75 blocks and 45 service aces as a Gamecock. 
 
Robinson missed the team’s final six games of the season due to injury, but still garnered enough respect from the conference’s coaches to earn her fourth appearance on the postseason team. She is the fifth member of the program to be a four-time honoree since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1991, the last being Cally Plummer and Berna Dwyer in 2002. Robinson is one of four women in program history to finish a career with at least 1,000 kills and 400 blocks and in the all-time career record book, she ranks ninth in kills, fourth in hitting percentage, third in blocks and third in games played.
 
McCutcheon is one of only two Gamecocks to play in every set this season, earning the start in all 28 matches played. She was an elite two-way player, finishing third on the team in kills (215), second in digs (220), third in blocks (64) and first in service aces (27). The Upstate native is the eighth freshman in program history to make the conference’s All-Freshman team, joining Robinson and Riley Whitesides as former honorees on the current roster.

“We’ve gotten incredible contributions from our freshman class and Lauren has been at the forefront of that all season,” Mendoza said. “She’s a joy to get to coach and she’s very deserving of the recognition. She makes our team better in a lot of ways and we are very excited that we get to work with her for three more years.”

South Carolina finished the regular season with a 14-14 record overall. The team now awaits its postseason fate, the NCAA tournament field will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 28 with a selection show on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. The Gamecocks are hoping to hear their name called for the third time in the last four seasons.

Player of the Year: Alli Stumler, Kentucky
Libero of the Year: Eleanor Beavin, Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: Emma Grome, Kentucky
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jillian Gillen, Arkansas
Coach of the Year: Julie Darty Dennis, Mississippi State

All-SEC Team

All-Freshman Team