Gamecocks Sink Pirates in Straight Sets
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball enjoyed one of its best offensive performances in almost 16 years on Tuesday night, sweeping the previously undefeated East Carolina Pirates (7-1). The Gamecocks (8-2) out-hit ECU .507 to .158, with veterans Riley Whitesides and Oby Anadi combining for 29 kills in three sets.
1st SET: The two sides provided a wildly entertaining opening game, South Carolina finished with a .484 hitting percentage and 18 kills and ECU went for .324 and 16, respectively. The Gamecocks were able to keep their production rolling from start to finish, though, earning a 25-20 win. There would be 10 ties before the home side broke away late, the Gamecocks snapped a 16-all tie with a 9-4 run to get the win. Whitesides recorded a team-high seven kills on just 10 swings, Alayna Johnson and Oby Anadi added five kills and four kills, respectively, to highlight the offensive outburst.
2nd SET: South Carolina used a big set behind the service line to build on its momentum in set two, dominating with a 25-9 win. The Gamecocks put up similar offensive numbers but ECU could not keep pace, finishing with just three kills and only 17 attacks in total due to the service pressure from Carolina. A 3-2 score at the start soon ballooned into a 22-5 margin, with freshman Victoria Harris putting the finishing touches on the run with three service aces in a span of four points.
3rd SET: The Gamecocks wrapped up the sweep in a similar manner in set three, with the Pirates committing as many errors (five) as they had kills in another 25-9 score. Whitesides totaled seven more kills to push her to 18 for the night, needing just nine more swings, she set the tone for the offense which hit a game-high .611 with a 12-5 advantage in kills. Elizabeth McElveen took her turn pestering the Pirates behind the service line, she spearheaded a 10-0 run that broke an early 4-4 tie and the visitors would not get back into a single-digit deficit the rest of the way.
NOTABLE
- South Carolina allowed just 38 total points to the Pirates, the lowest by a Gamecock opponent since Sept. 17, 2016 (Gardner-Webb, 38) – exactly eight years to the day. After allowing 16 kills to ECU in set one, the Carolina defense gave up just eight kills total in sets two and three.
- East Carolina entered Tuesday night ranked number one in the nation for opponent hitting percentage allowed. Through seven games, the Pirates held their opponents to an .088 percentage. South Carolina responded with a .507 hitting percentage, the program’s highest single-game number since Nov. 23, 2008 (.536 vs. Mississippi St.).
- The one-two punch of Anadi and Whitesides finished the night with 29 of the team’s 46 total kills and combined for a .650 hitting percentage, committing just three errors over 40 swings together.
- Anadi finished the team’s seven-game home stand with 11 kills and a .714 hitting percentage on Tuesday night. The senior has 10+ kills in three of the last four games and has hit .700 or higher in four of the last six games. She had three games with double-digit kills through the first three SEASONS of her career entering 2024 (68 matches).
- Freshman Victoria Harris recorded three service aces in a span of four serves in set two, she entered the match with two aces total through her first nine career matches.
- Now with the seven-game home stand behind them, the Gamecocks saw sell-out crowds in six of the seven games. The team entered the week ranked 19th nationally for accumulated attendance.
- The back line of the defense was stellar for Carolina, allowing just one service ace while out-digging ECU 36-20. The Gamecocks finished this stretch of home games with just 20 aces allowed in seven matches (24 sets) compared to 43 for opponents.
UP NEXT: The team finishes the non-conference schedule on the road, traveling up to Clemson for a Friday-night tilt in Jervey Gym. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. with coverage on ACCNx.
NOTABLE
- South Carolina allowed just 38 total points to the Pirates, the lowest by a Gamecock opponent since Sept. 17, 2016 (Gardner-Webb, 38) – exactly eight years to the day. After allowing 16 kills to ECU in set one, the Carolina defense gave up just eight kills total in sets two and three.
- East Carolina entered Tuesday night ranked number one in the nation for opponent hitting percentage allowed. Through seven games, the Pirates held their opponents to an .088 percentage. South Carolina responded with a .507 hitting percentage, the program’s highest single-game number since Nov. 23, 2008 (.536 vs. Mississippi St.).
- The one-two punch of Anadi and Whitesides finished the night with 29 of the team’s 46 total kills and combined for a .650 hitting percentage, committing just three errors over 40 swings together.
- Anadi finished the team’s seven-game home stand with 11 kills and a .714 hitting percentage on Tuesday night. The senior has 10+ kills in three of the last four games and has hit .700 or higher in four of the last six games. She had three games with double-digit kills through the first three SEASONS of her career entering 2024 (68 matches).
- Freshman Victoria Harris recorded three service aces in a span of four serves in set two, she entered the match with two aces total through her first nine career matches.
- Now with the seven-game home stand behind them, the Gamecocks saw sell-out crowds in six of the seven games. The team entered the week ranked 19th nationally for accumulated attendance.
- The back line of the defense was stellar for Carolina, allowing just one service ace while out-digging ECU 36-20. The Gamecocks finished this stretch of home games with just 20 aces allowed in seven matches (24 sets) compared to 43 for opponents.
UP NEXT: The team finishes the non-conference schedule on the road, traveling up to Clemson for a Friday-night tilt in Jervey Gym. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. with coverage on ACCNx.
QUOTABLE: TOM MENDOZA
