Gamecocks Knock Off Texas
A&M in Four Sets
COLUMBIA,
S.C. — The South Carolina volleyball team put together its most
complete performance of the season on Sunday to defeat Texas
A&M in four sets by the scores of 25-23, 25-20, 20-25 and 25-23
in front of a raucous crowd of 1,430 at the Volleyball Competition
Facility.
The win is the Gamecocks’ (10-6, 2-2) first ever over the Aggies (9-5,
1-2), who held a 4-0 series lead coming into the matchup. Sunday’s
crowd also ranks as the fourth largest in VCF history, surpassing
Friday’s mark of 1,405.
After his team suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to Arkansas on
Friday, South Carolina head coach Scott Swanson couldn’t have been more
proud of how his team bounced back on Sunday.
“It was a signature win for us,” Swanson said. “Our young team battled
and scrapped and played defense and blocked. We did a lot of things
really well today. We had a huge home crowd on our side making some
great noise. It was just an awesome environment. It is a huge
confidence builder for our kids and the program.”
Texas A&M finished the match with an edge in hitting percentage
(.315-.312), but the Gamecocks held the advantage in kills with 71 to
the Aggies 59. Senior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin led the way with
23 kills and recorded 11 digs for her third consecutive double-double
and fifth of the season. Sophomore middle blocker Darian Dozier added a
career-best 18 kills while hitting .571 and led the team with six block
assists. Sophomore Sarah Blomgren chipped in 10 kills and two block
assists, while freshman middle Jacqy Angermiller contributed eight
kills and two blocks. Sophomore setter Kellie McNeil came up just shy
of a double-double, finishing with 53 assists, nine digs, six kills and
three block assists.
South Carolina’s back line came up huge on Sunday as it finished with a
64-56 advantage in digs. Freshman libero/defensive specialist Gabrielle
Rubeis led the way with a match-high 19 digs. Junior Michaela
Christiansen added 13 digs, and freshman Megan Kirkland contributed
eight digs.
“All of our defensive specialists and liberos were unbelievable,”
Swanson said. “They passed well and served tough and dug some great
balls. They kept us in rallies. To win that match we had about five or
six extra opportunities to swing because of our defense giving our
hitters more balls. It was a great performance by them, and give credit
to our blockers for funneling the balls to them.”
Senior setter Allie Sawatzky recorded her fourth triple double of the
season to lead the Aggies, finishing with 10 kills, 40 assists and 10
digs. Sophomore middle blocker Shelby Sullivan posted a team-high 13
kills, while sophomore outside hitter Angela Lowak and freshman middle
blocker Jazzmin Babers added 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
The Gamecocks got the crowd into the match early in the first set as
they jumped out to an 8-3 lead behind a pair of blocks, with one by
Dozier and McNeil and the other by Dozier and Blomgren. Texas
A&M made it interesting, pulling to within one point on six
occasions, but South Carolina wouldn’t break. After the Aggies cut its
deficit to 24-23 on a Sullivan kill, Dozier delivered a kill off a
McNeil set to give the Gamecocks a 25-23 win. South Carolina hit .333
for the set. Thévenin led the way with seven kills, while Dozier had
five on five attempts.
South Carolina never trailed in the second set as it out-hit the Aggies
.438-.355 behind seven kills from Dozier. After Texas A&M tied
the match up at 12-12 on a Babers kill, Dozier answered with a kill to
give the Gamecocks the lead for good, as South Carolina outscored the
visitors 13-8 down the stretch.
The Aggies avoided the sweep with their best effort of the afternoon in
the third set, hitting .412 for the game. The teams played to an 8-8
tie early on before a Gamecock service error gave Texas A&M the
lead for good. The Aggies pushed their lead to as many as five points,
and South Carolina was unable to pull closer than two the rest of the
way.
The match seemed to be headed for a fifth set, as Texas A&M
built a 14-10 lead in the fourth set. However, the Gamecocks roared
back to take the lead with a 6-0 run capped by back-to-back kills by
Blomgren. The teams then played through five ties and two lead changes
before a Thévenin kill gave South Carolina the lead for good at 23-22
on its way to a 25-23 victory to win the match.
|