TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After taking a loss on Friday, Alabama volleyball rebounded in Saturday’s rematch against South Carolina with a three-set sweep over the Gamecocks by set scores of 27-25, 25-22 and 28-26.
The sweep is Alabama’s (9-17, 3-11 SEC) fourth of the season and second in SEC play and was the Crimson Tide’s first win in Tuscaloosa over South Carolina (12-13, 6-9 SEC) since 2017. The win also marked the first time Alabama won a rematch against a team it previously lost to that same season since a 3-1 win over LSU on Nov. 19, 2017 after losing to the Tigers earlier that year.
South Carolina jumped out to an early lead in set one but Alabama rallied to tie it near the halfway mark at 11-11 and held a 15-13 lead at the media timeout. The Gamecocks moved back ahead at 18-17 and after three tie scores the Tide retook the lead, 22-21. After a South Carolina timeout, the visitors would reach set point first at 24-23 but Alabama closed it out with a 4-1 run to win, 27-25.
Down 4-2 early in set two, the Tide surged ahead with a 9-1 run to lead 11-5. Later with the margin still at six points, 15-9, momentum swung the Gamecocks’ way as they went on an 8-1 run to lead 17-16 and force an Alabama timeout. The Tide came out of the break recharged, riding a 6-1 run to an eventual 25-22 set win to lead 2-0.
Neither team held more than a two-point advantage in the third until South Carolina scored three in a row to lead 12-9 at the halfway mark. A 5-0 Alabama later pushed the Tide ahead 16-14 and the teams would continue to battle back and forth. Tied at 23-23, Alabama reached match point on a kill from Alyiah Wells but the Gamecocks scored back-to-back to swing it to set point in their favor. The Tide answered right back with two of its own and then after the teams traded points to make it 27-26, a kill from Kendyl Reaugh ended it as Alabama won, 28-26, to complete the sweep.
Notes
- The three-set win was Alabama’s fourth sweep of the season and second in SEC play
- The win was the Tide’s first over the Gamecocks in Tuscaloosa since 2017
- It marked the first time Alabama won a rematch against a team it previously lost to the same season since a Nov. 19, 2017 win against LSU after losing to the Tigers earlier that year
- Abby Marjama’s two aces puts her five away from the UA single-season and career top 10
- Emily Janek posted her 11th double-double of the season with 35…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Alabama Athletics…