Sept. 10, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After falling 0-1 in the match, South Carolina volleyball (6-1) came from behind and won three straight games to defeat North Carolina 3-1 Saturday night. Game scores were 24-30, 30-27, 33-31, 30-27. USC had four players reach double figures in kills, led by Shonda Cole with 20. Three players recorded double figures in digs with Dinelia Concepcion leading with 18.
“During the Purdue match we were not playing on all cylinders,” said head coach Nancy Somera. “We missed kills, balls were dropping, it was not a good match. We knew we had to regroup and get ready for UNC. We came out in game one with more of the same from the last match but eventually we came back, shifted gears and played better against North Carolina. We scrapped and went for balls and played much better. We were able to take care of business. One goal this year is to learn how to consistently compete. I think the players now know they will be on the bench if they don’t compete.”
North Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match after taking game one. USC came within four on a kill by Lynae Vanden Hull at the 24-28 mark. The Tar Heels answered back with a kill for game point. A Gamecock service error provided the final point for UNC and the win. Despite recording 17 kills in the game, USC was outhit .333 to .257.
USC fought back in game two and held the Tar Heels to .098 hitting while the Gamecocks hit .214. Tied 21-21, USC was able to pull ahead and hold on to the lead. The Gamecocks were able to capitalize on UNC errors including an attack error to reach game point, 29-26. A service error by Iris Santos gave UNC another point but, the game was won on impressive block assists by Cole and Belita Salters and tied the match 1-1.
Game three was the deciding point of the match as UNC led 28-26 before two errors tied the game for the Gamecocks, 28-28. A kill by Inehetu put UNC back up but Nicole Miller came back with a kill to keep the game alive. Sarah Morgan recorded a kill to go up by one but a service error by USC tied it for UNC. In the final moments of the game, Cole hit a kill to take a 32-31 lead and a ball handling error by McKenzie Byrd handed the win to USC.
In game four, UNC tied it 25-25 but back-to-back errors by the Tar Heels put USC up by two. North Carolina continued to fight and scored twice more but a kill by Shonda Cole and a ball handling error by Camilla Ihenetu gave the Gamecocks the 30-27 win and the match 3-1.
Next for USC is Clemson on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The Gamecocks will travel to Clemson for a 7 p.m. match.
