The South Carolina Gamecock volleyball team (9-14) was swept 3-0 by the LSU Tigers on Senior Night at the Carolina Volleyball Center.
Before the match, senior setter Sarah Jordan, senior setter Kimmie Thompson, senior outside hitter Alayna Johnson and senior middle Emily Beeker were honored in a pregame ceremony.
LSU opened strong in the first set, taking the first two points before South Carolina got on the board.
A momentum-shifting block by Beeker brought South Carolina within one, and a successful net-fault challenge helped the Gamecocks reset defensively. Johnson and Beeker followed with back-to-back kills to keep the Tigers under pressure.
The lead traded hands several times as sophomore right side Elise Marchal and freshman outside hitter Victoria Hill came through with key kills to tie the score at 14-14.
LSU’s junior middle blocker Angelina Lee responded immediately, putting the Tigers up heading into the media timeout.
Out of the break, LSU extended their lead to 17-14, forcing a South Carolina timeout. Johnson and Hill delivered late kills, and a block from junior right side Laiya Ebo and junior middle Ava Leahy pulled the Gamecocks within two, but a final attack error gave LSU the 25-22 win in the opening set.
South Carolina carried that energy into the second set, keeping pace early behind strong defense and a Hill service ace. A block from Beeker and Johnson gave South Carolina a 10-9 lead, and back-to-back kills from Hill sent the Gamecocks into the media timeout ahead 15-14.
LSU fought back to even the score, but a solo block from Johnson and a combined stop from Beeker and Marchal pushed the Gamecocks ahead 19-15. The Tigers rallied late, however, tying the set at 19-19 and edging out a 25-23 win after a tense back-and-forth finish.
Determined to extend the match, the Gamecocks opened the third set strong with an Ebo kill and a Jordan ace. The teams traded points early, before South Carolina built a 9-6 lead with a block from Leahy and Ebo, forcing an LSU timeout.
The Tigers answered with a surge behind Lee and freshman right side Camryn Jeffery, using two straight blocks to regain control.
Down 17-14, the Gamecocks called timeout but couldn’t slow LSU’s offense. Johnson added a late kill to close the gap to 19-17, but LSU’s front line held firm. Despite a final push, LSU closed out the set 25–20 to complete the sweep.
Utilizing the block
South Carolina’s blocking presence was a highlight, totaling eight blocks in the match.
Beeker and Ebo anchored the front line, each recording four blocks and disrupting LSU’s rhythm throughout key stretches.
Their timing helped stall several Tiger runs, particularly in the first and third sets, showcasing the team’s defensive discipline at the net despite the loss.
Capitalizing on LSU’s mistakes
The Gamecocks struggled to convert LSU’s errors into momentum. The Tigers committed multiple service and attack errors in each set, but South Carolina often failed to string points together afterward.
Missed serves and unforced errors of their own repeatedly halted potential scoring runs. Even when LSU faltered, the Gamecocks’ offense couldn’t sustain pressure, allowing the Tigers to regroup quickly and maintain control.
"The crazy thing about the match is that we didn't execute at a very high level," head coach Sarah Rumely Noble said. "I think we had moments where we could capitalize on it, but we just didn't take the reins and kill enough balls to be able to stay in the match."
Struggles on defense
Defensively, South Carolina had difficulty maintaining coverage and slowing LSU’s attack. While Ebo and Leahy were solid at the net, the back row left too many openings that LSU’s hitters, led by Lee and junior outside hitter Jurnee Robinson, consistently exploited.
Sophomore libero Victoria Harris made several key digs, but inconsistent communication and late reads limited South Carolina’s transitions into offense. LSU capitalized on those breakdowns, turning long rallies into decisive scoring runs.
"We're just gonna get back at it in the gym ... We're gonna really unify as a team, play as one, and we're just gonna go after it," Johnson said.
What’s next?
South Carolina (9-14, 3-10 SEC) will host Ole Miss (12-12, 4-9 SEC) on Nov. 12 for their final home match of the regular season. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Carolina Volleyball Center, with coverage on SEC Network+.