Young team impresses at tournament, wins every game in three matches
The USC volleyball team started off the season with a bang by winning the Gamecock Invitational over the weekend. The Gamecocks won without losing a single game in three matches.
The first match was on Friday morning against a lesser South Carolina State squad. The Gamecocks had a strong .370 hitting percentage to lead a 25-14, 25-9 and 25-13 sweep. Senior outside hitter Juliette Thévenin had 12 kills and freshman Dessaa Legros added 10 kills to lead the Gamecock offense. Freshman setter Helen Récaborde finished the match with 14 assists and sophomore setter Kellie McNeil was right behind her teammate with 13 assists.
Thévenin and head coach Scott Swanson knew the first test was easy for the Gamecocks and were interested to see how they would do against a better Florida International team later in the day.
It turned out just fine for USC as they swept FIU by the scores of 25-12, 25-22 amd 25-14.
Thévenin, a native of Belgium, finished with an impressive 20 kills for the match and a total of 32 kills in the two matches on Friday. Legros and sophomores Darian Dozier and Sarah Blomgren each contributed seven kills for the Gamecocks. McNeil had a match-high 32 assists against FIU.
The first and third games went smoothly for the Gamecocks, but FIU overcame a Gamecock lead in the second to tie the game at 21. The Gamecocks earned their 24th point of that game in dramatic fashion. The point seemed never-ending with players on both teams diving full extension to keep the ball alive, but USC came away with it. The sequence was a reflection of the Gamecocks’ fight.
“I really think they’re dialed in to compete their best,” Swanson said. “It was about giving our best effort. We have a young team and they still do some young freshman stuff once in a while. But, I think we always compete and fight hard. They’re a really good group.”
Thévenin was a little nervous before the game because she saw FIU playing before the match and said the team impressed her. However, she was impressed with the freshmen on her team and their confidence to go after balls.
For players such as Récaborde, Legros and defensive setter Gabrielle Rubeis, these were their first college matches. Swanson said the morning match against the South Carolina St. was important because it gave his freshman confidence against a better FIU team.
Swanson hoped to see improvement in his team’s defense and its ability to block more balls before the Saturday match against High Point. The head coach got what he wanted as the Gamecocks had nine blocks in three games on their way to a 25-18, 25-17 and 25-21 sweep for the title.
Legros and McNeil led the Gamecock attack with eight kills apiece. McNeil also had 25 assists in the championship match. The Gamecocks success on defense translated into a .095 hitting percentage for High Point.
Thévenin was named tournament MVP after finishing the match with seven kills, five assists and four digs. The senior captain finished the tournament with 39 kills.
“I’ve never been confident like this,” Thévenin said. “I’ve been MVP my three previous years for the team, but I’ve never been that confident. I just feel really comfortable with the people I’m playing with. They’re great teammates and I couldn’t ask for better.”
Even with the success in the opening tournament, Swanson said the Gamecocks have some progress to make.
The head coach wants his players to run their middle attack more and sure up their defense a little more. He thought the blocking was good against High Point, but still wants improvement in that area.
Swanson acknowledged that he has many young players on his team and that for everyone to be at their best, the process will not be overnight. He expects it to be a year and a half to two years before most of these players are at the top of their game.
The Gamecocks will be working hard over the next week before their next tournament, the Big Orange Bash hosted by rival Clemson. South Carolina faces the Tigers on Friday at 7 p.m.
“It is going to be crazy at Clemson on Friday,” Swanson said. “I don’t know, I like our chances to go in there and compete with them, I really do. They’re a good team—-we’re going to be a better team in a week. Hopefully, it’s an exciting match.”