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Gamecocks Host Troy Sunday, Cal for ACC/SEC Showdown Tuesday
Women's Volleyball  . 

Gamecocks Host Troy Sunday, Cal for ACC/SEC Showdown Tuesday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina volleyball team (3-1, 0-0 SEC) returns home to host Troy on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2:00 p.m. before welcoming California Berkley on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m. for the annual ACC/SEC Showdown.

MATCH DAY INFO

Tickets to both matches can be purchased here. Admission for students is free. Both matches will be live scored (StatBroadcast) and streamed (SEC Network+); links can be found on the schedule page. Fans can also follow along on social media through @GamecockVolley on X and @GamecockVB on Instagram.

The promotion for Sunday’s match will be “Daddy + Daughter”. The first 100 fans will receive a Daddy + Daughter themed button. Tickets for the match will also have a buy one adult ticket get one youth ticket for free deal (in-person only deal). Tuesday’s theme is “Mental Health” night and there will be a rally towel giveaway.

LAST WE SAW THEM

The Gamecocks split the inaugural Big Ten/SEC Challenge, defeating Michigan in a reverse sweep thriller before falling in straight sets to Michigan State earlier in the week. The win over the Wolverines marked the first time in program history that the Gamecocks have defeated Michigan and the first time the team has beat a Big Ten opponent since 2019. The victory also marked the best start (3-0) for Sarah Rumely Noble as South Carolina head coach .

WEEK TWO NOTABLES

  • Multiple Gamecocks set career highs in the Michigan match. Olivia Borgman led the offense with a personal best of 20 kills, while Ceci Vance added a career high 11. Kiana Dinn set up a majority of those kills, notching a career high 30 assists. Sydney Davis had a breakthrough match, leading the team with a career high 13 blocks.
  • Against Michigan, three Gamecocks had 10 or more kills; Borgman (20), Ava Leahy (12) and Vance (11).
  • The Gamecocks outscored the Wolverines in points (84 to 81), aces (7 to 6) and blocks (18 to 6).
  • South Carolina notched 18 blocks against Michigan which marks the highest during the Rumely Noble era and ties for third in program history during the rally scoring era.
  • Sydney Davis’ 13 blocks ties for third in program history for total blocks during five set matches.
  • Lilly Gillespie set season highs in digs (20) and aces (3).
  • Dinn and Gillespie have led the team in assists and digs, respectively, for all four matches this season.
  • Leahy has hit .471 or better with eight kills for three of the four matches this season.
  • The Gamecocks currently rank first in the conference and 18th in the NCAA for blocks per set, averaging 3.00.

SCOUTING THE TROJANS

Troy went 10-16 for the 2025 season with a 7-9 conference record, wrapping up the season in the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament where the Trojans fell 3-1 to James Madison. Amiah Butler, the team’s top kill leader last season who notched a total of 460, graduated but Troy returns Kalina Calvillo who earned the second most amount of kills last season. Calvillo recorded 243 kills last season and currently leads the team with 31, averaging 3.44 per set. The team’s top setter Madison Marx returns after tallying 535 assists last season. She leads the team with 59 this season. Defensively, the team lost its top block leader but return Ashlynn Axtell who earned 42 last season for the second highest amount. She currently leads this season with 6. Troy tied for fourth in the West Division for the Sun Belt 2026 preseason poll. The Trojans are currently 2-1 this season with sweeps over Mercer and Alabama State and a loss to North Alabama. The Gamecocks lead the Trojans 4-0 in the all-time series record, defeating Troy 3-1 in the last matchup between the two programs in 2023.

SCOUTING THE BEARS

Cal went 9-21 during the 2025 season, going 6-14 in ACC play. So far this season, the Bears are 2-1 with wins over Pacific and UC San Diego, and a loss to Saint Mary’s. On the court, Cal has primarily utilized its underclassmen on the offensive side. Freshman Abby Zimmerman currently leads the team with 38 kills while freshman Anna Flores leads with 114 assists. The Bears look to the veterans on the defensive side of play, as fifth year Cari Bohm leads with 15 blocks and senior Sophia Johnson leads with 33 digs. Cal was picked 13th in the 2026 ACC Preseason poll, garnering 83 votes.

For continued updates on the team, follow Gamecockvolley on X/Twitter and GamecockVB on Instagram.

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