After building momentum with an NCAA bid in the 2024-25 season, South Carolina volleyball is preparing for a new era in program history. The Gamecocks steps into the 2025 season under first-year head coach Sarah Rumely Noble following a successful coaching career at Appalachian State.
A two-time All-American setter during her playing days at Kentucky, Rumely Noble brings fresh leadership and a spirited vision to the program. Her arrival marks a new chapter as the program works to rebound in the competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC).
"There's a lot of new, there's a lot of excitement, and we're really working to set the tone, set the standard at a really high level," Rumely Noble said.
South Carolina concluded the 2024 season with a 16-12 record (5-13 SEC) and was projected 12th in the conference in a preseason media poll. Rumely Noble said the task is clear: she needs to set the foundation for what the program is going to be about.
"My number one priority is that the foundation that the program is resting on is on a firm foundation, and that's not wavering," Rumely Noble said.
South Carolina adds 10 newcomers to the program, including transfers junior outside hitter Nia Hall (Cleveland State), sophomore right side hitter Elise Marchal (Appalachian State), senior middle hitter Emily Beeker (Tennessee), junior outside hitter Phoebe Reyes (Barton Community College) and junior right side hitter Laiya Ebo (Butler).
The freshman class features outside hitter Victoria Hill, middle hitter Sydney Davis, right side hitter Lina Merz, defensive specialist/libero Anne Bradley Bing setter Kaia Pixler and middle hitter Claire Payne.
Ebo, a 6-foot-1 right side hitter from Washington, D.C., joins the Gamecocks after two seasons at Butler University. In 2024, she played in 29 matches, totaling 154 kills over 85 sets, and achieved a career-high .615 hitting percentage in a match against Bellarmine.
"My main thing is playing with confidence any opportunity I get," Ebo said, "Taking that to the fullest extent and being able to showcase myself and my team's talents and prove people wrong in a sense."
The Gamecocks also have eight returning players this season, with key returners including sophomore defensive specialist/libero Victoria Harris and senior setter Sarah Jordan.
Jordan led the Gamecocks' offense last season with over 900 assists and an average of 9.91 per set. She surpassed 2,000 career assists and set a program rally-scoring era record with 66 assists in a single match at LSU. Jordan recorded 10 double-doubles and guided the Gamecocks to high hitting percentages in key victories. She also earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2023 and 2024.
Harris had an impressive debut season in 2024, recording over 400 digs with an average 4.04 per set. She earned SEC All-Freshman honors and SEC Freshman of the Week recognition, highlighted by standout performances of 23 digs at Duke and 27 digs at LSU. Her defensive play helped reduce the Gamecocks' service reception errors, boosting overall offensive efficiency.
"Our overarching goal is to do something that has never been done here before," Harris said. "Just hitting a lot of major milestones ... We focus on it really big like winning every single day in practice."
The Gamecocks' goals go beyond wins and losses. Rumely Noble, her players and her staff are focused on laying the groundwork with a renewed focus on growth in Columbia. With a mix of strong veteran players and fresh talent, South Carolina is aiming to exceed expectations and move up in the SEC standings.
"I like a prove-other-people-wrong moment," Jordan said. "I love an underdog moment, and I think we have the opportunity to have a good comeback."
What's next?
South Carolina volleyball will open its regular season and host the Gamecock Classic at the Carolina Volleyball Center from Aug. 29-31. The Gamecocks begin play against East Tennessee State at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29, followed by matches against Campbell and longtime rival Clemson.