COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball rallied back for a series-opening loss Friday night to post a 3-1 win over Towson (1-1) on Saturday afternoon, sending another over-capacity crowd home happy. After a quiet opener, the veteran core of the team came through big with senior Riley Whitesides leading the team in kills (13) and digs (15), junior Oby Anadi with six blocks with four kills and sophomore Alayna Johnson stepping into the lineup and delivering eight kills on just 15 swings.
1st SET: Towson appeared to have lost momentum from the night before, building a quick 9-3 lead on the Gamecocks. The Tigers maintained a healthy lead until a key mid-game stretch where Carolina chipped away with an 11-3 run that flipped a 16-10 deficit into a 21-19 lead. Anadi keyed the comeback with her defense, igniting the team with three-consecutive blocks with the last making it a 20-19 score for the home side and Towson would not take the lead again in a 25-22 final. Four different attackers had three kills in the set for the Gamecocks, highlighted by three kills on just four swings for Johnson.
2nd SET: The Tigers flipped the score back in their favor with a 25-22 win in the second to even the match. Towson again took a big lead early, going out to as 19-13 lead, but were this time able to stifle a Carolina rally. The Gamecocks were able to cut it close, two more Anadi blocks made it a 20-19 deficit for Carolina, but Towson put its foot back on the gas and closed out the set.
3rd SET: Both teams grinded out the start of the all-important third set, which featured nine ties in the first 24 combined points. South Carolina broke away for a modest lead thanks to success in the serve game. Sophomore setter Kimmie Thompson strung together back-to-back aces behind the line as part of a 4-0 run to make it 16-12 and that was all the cushion the Gamecocks needed. The teams again would trade points, with Towson tying the score at 18-all and 19-all, but the Tigers would never regain the lead. From the 19-19 mark, junior Hanna Bissler served the team through a 4-0 run and the Gamecocks won 25-20 for the 2-1 set lead.
4th SET: Towson appeared ready to send the match to a fifth set thanks to a big lead early, but again the home crowd willed their side back into contention. The Tigers scored the game’s first four points and led 15-10 at the first timeout of the set, but from there the Gamecocks started their comeback. Riley Whitesides, who’s service behind the line…