The South Carolina volleyball team (10-15) fell to the No. 4 Texas Longhorns (21-2) 3-1, marking the Gamecocks' final regular season match.
South Carolina was able to achieve its first point of the set off a Texas attacking error. Senior middle Emily Beeker followed with a kill a few points later, and another Texas attacking error tied the score at 3-3.
However, Texas went on a 4-1 run, leading the Gamecocks, 7-4. The Longhorns were able to remain in the lead, 11-8, despite kills from junior right side Laiya Ebo, junior middle Ava Leahy and senior outside hitter Alayna Johnson.
Kills from Beeker and a block from Beeker and Ebo brought the Gamecocks within three points, 14-11, but Texas was able to increase its lead, 18-13, despite further kills from Beeker and Ebo.
South Carolina later called a timeout, after the Longhorns led the Gamecocks 20-14. Leahy then earned a point off a kill, and junior defensive specialist Elizabeth McElveen earned a service ace for the Gamecocks, bringing the score 22-16. However, Texas was able to win the first set after a 3-0 run, 25-16.
South Carolina earned the first point of the second set off a kill from Leahy, with Beeker earning their second point off a block. A Texas service error and attacking error, and a service ace from McElveen brought the Gamecocks in the lead, 5-3.
A kill from Beeker and another Texas attacking error brought the score to 7-4. However, a 4-0 run by the Longhorns resulted in Texas retaking the lead, 9-8, forcing South Carolina to call a timeout.
An exchange of points ensued until the Longhorns went on a 5-0 run, bringing the score 15-10. Junior outside hitter Nia Hall was able to earn two more points off kills, but Texas further increased their lead, 18-12, after a 3-0 run.
At one point, the Gamecocks came within three points of Texas’ lead, 23-20, after kills from Beeker and Ebo and two kills from Leahy, and a Texas attacking error. Despite another kill from sophomore right side Elise Marchal, Texas was able to put away the second set, 25-21.
South Carolina was able to earn the first point of the third set off a block from Johnson and Beeker. The Gamecocks were able to take an early 6-4 lead after a Texas attacking error, kills from Johnson and Leahy, a block from Leahy and Marchal and a service error from the Longhorns.
South Carolina further increased its lead, 11-6, following a Texas service error, a service ace from Leahy, and kills as well as a block from Hall and Beeker, forcing Texas to call a timeout.
The Gamecocks increased their lead 13-7 following a kill from Beeker and a block from Beeker and Johnson. Another block from Beeker and Ebo, as well as a kill from Johnson, brought the score to 15-8.
An exchange of points occurred, but the Gamecocks maintained their lead, 18-10, after kills from Ebo, Johnson and Hall, forcing the Longhorns to call another timeout. The Gamecocks earned three more kills, increasing their lead, 22-12.
However, a 3-0 run by Texas resulted in a timeout called by South Carolina. Subsequent kills from Beeker and Ebo resulted in the Gamecocks winning the third set, 25-19.
To open the fourth set, Beeker earned South Carolina’s first point with a kill. Despite Texas going on an early 3-0 run, the Gamecocks were able to a tie at 3-3.
South Carolina took an early 7-5 lead after kills from Marchal and Hall, a block from Marchal and yet another kill from Hall. However, Texas was able to tie with the Gamecocks only a few points later at 7-7.
South Carolina answered with a kill from Hall and a service ace from senior setter Kimmie Thompson, but Texas was able to tie once more, 10-10. A subsequent 4-0 run by Texas resulted in South Carolina calling a timeout after the Longhorns took a 14-11 lead.
A Texas service error and a service ace from senior setter Sarah Jordan brought the Gamecocks back within one point of the Longhorns, 14-13. Texas then went on a 3-0 run, but South Carolina answered with a 3-0 run, forcing Texas to call a timeout after its lead was cut to 17-16.
An exchange of points ensued until Texas pulled ahead of South Carolina, 21-18, forcing the Gamecocks to call a timeout. Despite two kills from Ebo and a kill from Johnson, Texas was able to win the fourth set 25-21.
Offense displays depth
Five South Carolina players had seven or more kills during the match. Hall led the way for the team with 12 total kills, followed by Beeker with 11, Ebo with 10, Leahy with nine and Johnson with seven.
This marks Hall's fourteenth game with double-digit kills this season. The match against Texas also marks both Beeker and Ebo's third game this year with double-digit kills.
South Carolina's offense also showcased a .264 hitting percentage with 129 attacks, one shy of Texas' 130.
Defense steps up
Sophomore libero Victoria Harris led the way with 19 total digs. This marks her twentieth game with double-digit digs on the season. This brings her total number of digs on the season to 381, bringing her career total number of digs to 777.
However, eight other players were able to record one or more digs. Thompson followed Harris with eight digs of her own, while Johnson followed with seven digs.
Beeker led the way with seven blocks for the team, with the team achieving nine total blocks, just two blocks shy of Texas' 11.
Looking toward post-regular season tournaments
South Carolina officially ended the regular season with an overall record of 10-15 and a conference record of 4-11.
The Gamecocks will now turn their attention to the upcoming SEC tournament that will take place from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25 in Savannah, Georgia, at Enmarket Arena.
Following the SEC tournament, the NCAA championship tournament will take place from Dec. 4 to Dec. 21, with the first and second rounds, as well as regionals, taking place at non-predetermined campus sites. The semifinals and final will take place in Kansas City, Missouri.
What's next?
The Gamecocks will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round of the SEC tournament this Friday at 2 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia. The game will be streamed on the SEC network.