The South Carolina volleyball team continued its winning streak against the Campbell Camels in its second 3-0 sweep of the Gamecock Classic on Aug. 30.
South Carolina came out strong in the opening set against Campbell, using a balanced attack and timely serving runs to take a 25-22 win. The Camels struck first with an early kill from senior middle Aley Clent, but early service errors allowed the Gamecocks to settle in. Freshman outside hitter Victoria Hill and senior outside hitter Alayna Johnson provided steady offense, while senior setter Kimmie Thompson sparked momentum with back-to-back service aces that gave the Gamecocks an 8-5 lead.
Campbell struggled to keep pace, committing multiple service and attack errors that widened the gap to 19-14. The Camels responded late, pulling within two at 23-22 after a service ace from junior setter Lauren Wheeler, but South Carolina held firm. Hill delivered a key kill to push for set point, and junior middle Ava Leahy sealed the deal with a final swing off a Thompson assist.
South Carolina carried its momentum into the second set, pulling away late for a 25-20 win and a 2-0 lead in the match. The Gamecocks and the Camels traded points early, with senior outside hitter Gwen Wolkow and freshman outside hitter Maja Daca powering the Camels' offense, while South Carolina answered through Hill and junior outside hitter Nia Hall.
After a string of service errors on both sides, Campbell briefly held a 10-9 edge, but South Carolina quickly steadied behind Thompson's ball distribution. A pair of kills from Johnson shifted the momentum, giving the Gamecocks a 17-13 advantage. Campbell fought to stay close, with Wolkow providing multiple kills to trim the deficit to 19-17.
However, South Carolina responded with a decisive push, sparked by Johnson and Hall at the net. Errors from the Camels at key moments proved costly, and Hill delivered the final kill off a Thompson assist to close out the second set.
South Carolina closed out the match in dominant fashion, rolling past Campbell 25-16 in the third set to complete the sweep. The Gamecocks jumped out to a fast start, racing to a 7-1 lead behind strong setting from senior setter Sarah Jordan and early kills from Hill and senior middle Emily Beeker. Campbell struggled to find rhythm against South Carolina's block, with errors at the net helping to widen the gap.
Hill continued to deliver offensively, and back-to-back kills from Johnson extended the lead to 12-4. Thompson came in to run the offense, connecting with Johnson, Beeker, and Hall for a balanced attack. A service ace from Johnson and a string of Campbell errors pushed the score 20-8, putting the Gamecocks firmly in control.
Campbell made a late push with kills from sophomore middle Hailey Heytvelt and Daca, trimming the deficit to 23-15, but the rally wasn't enough. Sophomore right side Elise Marchal delivered a late kill, and Hill finished the match with her final swing off a Thompson assist.
Blocking
Blocking was a game-changer in South Carolina's sweep over Campbell, serving not just as a defensive asset, but as a driving force behind its offensive control and court dominance. South Carolina had five blocks throughout the match, each coming at key moments to halt Campbell's momentum.
In the opening set, timely blocks at the net disrupted Campbell's attack rhythm, allowing the Gamecocks to transition and close out the win. As the match progressed, South Carolina's front line forced the Camels into off-speed swings and errors, limiting its efficiency.
By the third set, the Gamecocks' heavy presence at the net had taken over, with blocks sparking early runs that put Campbell on its heels. Even when not scoring directly, South Carolina's positioning funneled the ball to its defense and set up quick-strike offense.
Serving runs
Serving runs played a pivotal role in establishing momentum and controlling the match's tempo. The Gamecocks capitalized on key stretches of strong serving to break open tight sets and maintain pressure on the Camels' offense.
Thompson led the Gamecocks in serving, delivering well-placed serves that disrupted Campbell's offensive rhythm.
"I get fired up when I get on my serving run. I can give that energy to my teammates too," Thompson said.
Those runs not only racked up points but also allowed the Gamecocks to dictate the pace, maintain control in tight situations and create opportunities for quick transitions and balanced attacks.
Settling in on offense
The Gamecocks settled into a smooth and balanced offensive rhythm throughout the match, using smart ball distribution and strong hitter execution to keep the Camels off-balance. Jordan and Thompson spread the ball effectively across the front line, finding open lanes for Hill, Johnson, and Hall to attack.
"We just kept trying to find ways to kill balls, and we settled in," head coach Sarah Rumely Noble said. "Our offense was not great in the first set, and it got better as we went along."
South Carolina mixed in timely swings from the pins with middle attacks, creating constant pressure and forcing Campbell into defensive errors. As the match progressed, the Gamecocks' offense became more consistent and efficient, turning well-placed sets and quick transitions into points and helping it maintain control throughout all three sets.
What's next?
The Gamecocks hosted the Clemson Tigers (1-0) on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the final match of the Gamecock Classic, where it fell 2-3 to the Tigers.