Sept. 3, 2005

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The South Carolina Gamecock volleyball team improved to 3-0 Saturday as they swept the Mercer Bears 30-23, 30-26, 30-21 at the Florida State Tournament. Junior outside hitter Shonda Cole was named tournament MVP while Iris Santos and Lynae Vanden Hull were named to the all-tournament team.

“This was a very good opening weekend for us. We played a good tournament against good teams. Mercer is a scrappy team. They were the best passing team we faced this weekend I felt,” said head coach Nancy Somera. “They just didn’t have the physical advantage that we had. It was hard for them to get by our blocks.”

For the tournament, Cole led the Gamecocks with 49 kills and averaged 4.45 kills per game, while Vanden Hull averaged 2.82 kills per game with 31 kills. Santos registered 111 assists and hit .391 with 23 kills. Senior Nicole Miller led in total blocks with 22, followed by Cole with 14.

“We talked about what it takes to be a consistent team,” said Somera. “You have to first put games together, then put matches together, then you put days together. We did that this weekend and I am pleased with what we accomplished.”

The Gamecocks controlled most of the match but in game three, USC had to play catch-up in the first half. Mercer led by as much as four and kept the Gamecocks at bay until an attack error by Jackie Viren allowed USC to tie the game 9-9. Back-to-back errors by the Gamecocks then put Mercer back in the lead but the Bears could never pull away. USC eventually tied the game 14-14 before a block by setter Petra Lorenzi put USC ahead and the Gamecocks never relinquished the lead. Lorenzi recorded 16 assists in games two and three.

“Petra was able to get a good amount of playing time today and she played very well,” said Somera. “We were tied and we needed a spark out there and she was able to provide that.”

Another freshman that contributed to the Gamecocks success this weekend was outside hitter Marija Milosevic. Milosevic provided 16 kills for the match and hit .259. She totaled 29 kills for the tournament and hit .224.

The road tournament sweep also marks the first for the Gamecocks since 2001 when USC went 3-0 at the Sun Devil Challenge in Tempe, Ariz.

South Carolina now returns home for a short home for a short time as they prepare for the home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 6 against Charlotte. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Volleyball Competition Facility.