Skip to main content
Partner logo
Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Mobile Icon Link Gamecocks+
Volleyball Adds Two More for Fall 2022 Campaign
Women's Volleyball  . 

Volleyball Adds Two More for Fall 2022 Campaign

South Carolina volleyball head coach Tom Mendoza announced the signing of two Gamecocks for the 2022-23 school year on Tuesday. The team welcomes in-state talent Tireh Smith and Georgia transfer Dalaney Hans, who join the roster ahead of the fall season. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball head coach Tom Mendoza announced the signing of two Gamecocks for the 2022-23 school year on Tuesday. The team welcomes in-state talent Tireh Smith and Georgia transfer Dalaney Hans, who join the roster ahead of the fall season. 
 
Smith has four years of eligibility; Hans already earned her undergraduate degree at Georgia and will pursue a Masters in Sport and Entertainment Management at South Carolina. The duo joins three other Gamecocks who will be true freshmen in the fall – Megan Holland (Nazareth, Pa.), Alayna Johnson (Kershaw, S.C.) and Kimmie Thompson (Simpsonville, S.C.) – as well as graduate transfer Jenna Hampton from Penn State. Both Hampton and Johnson enrolled early at the university and spent the spring semester training with the team.
 
Dalaney Hans | 5-11 | Setter | Marietta, Ga. | Walton HS | University of Georgia

  • Daughter of Calista.
  • Has one sister, Channing.
  • Plans to earn her masters in Sport and Entertainment management at South Carolina, after earning an undergraduate degree in journalism at Georgia.
  • Played in 70 matches over four seasons of competition with Georgia, highlighted by her final two seasons that saw her play in 45 games and total.
  • Earned an increased role in the team’s two-setter offense over her final two seasons and she responded with 784 assists in 157 sets as a junior and senior.
  • Also proved to be a strong defender, piling up 259 digs in her final two seasons and finishing with four career double-doubles.
  • As a high school competitor, she was named the 2017 Georgia High School Player of the Year and led Walton High School to three state titles. She was also a finalist for National Player of the Year and the Andi Collins Award for nation’s best setter.

“Dalaney brings everything you look for in an experienced setter and leader and we are thrilled for her to join our team,” Mendoza said. “She’s played pretty much every role during her career, whether in a one setter or two setter offense, and she did it all with positivity. That’s something a team can never have enough of as we look to make our fourth NCAA tournament in five years. Dalaney is a great person and teammate and she’s also a heck of a setter who knows the SEC as well as anyone.”

Tireh Smith | 6-0 | Outside/Opposite | Moncks Corner, S.C. | Stratford HS | MVP Volleyball Club

  • Daughter of Tremayne and Ayeshia.
  • Has two brothers, Tyrin and Tayon.
  • Plans to major in Sport and Entertainment Management at South Carolina, with a career goal of becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Earned three varsity letters at Stratford High School, leading the Knights to runner-up finishes in the region two times.
  • Two-time All Region and All-State honoree, as both a junior and senior
  • Also trained with MVP Volleyball Club, based out of Mt. Pleasant.

“We recruit nationally and internationally, but we also want to keep the best players from the state right here wearing a Carolina uniform,” Mendoza said. “It’s important for our fans and for young players to be able to see role models from in-state succeeding in the SEC. Tireh’s athleticism and work ethic are going to give her the opportunity to be successful no matter who is on the other side of the net. She’s another high academic, high character young woman who will fit in great with the players we’ve already signed in her ’22 class. We are very excited to get her in the gym working to reach her potential.”

South Carolina ended the 2021 campaign with its third NCAA tournament berth in four years. The team returns four of its starters from the NCAA tournament match and 14 letterwinners in total from last season. For continued updates on the team leading into the 2022 season, follow @Gamecockvolley on Twitter and Instagram.