COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball announced the addition of seven student-athletes for the 2025 season. The Gamecocks signed five high school standouts for the fall, and also bring in two transfers that will bolster the roster starting this spring.
“We are very excited to announce the signing of our 2025 freshmen class,” head coach Tom Mendoza said. “Individually they are all great young people and elite athletes with bright futures ahead of them. Collectively they are driven to impact the program both in the short and long term and take the program to even higher levels. I don’t envision any of them taking long to get up to speed at this level, and I think they will fit great with the returning roster and the strong culture that we take pride in.”
- Lina Merz
- 6-2 pin hitter from Dresden, Germany.
- Played at the club level for VC Olympia Dresden since 2020-21.
- Helped her team win the national U20 championship and Vice-Champion at the U18 level in 2022. Her team finished third at this year’s German U20 National Championship.
- Intends to major in International Business.
- Daughter of Gerit and Steffen.
- Has one brother, Jonas.
- Her grandfather was a member of the German National Team in rowing, winning Olympic gold medals at the 1968 and 1972 games.
“We have really enjoyed getting to know Lina and I think she will fit in very well with the team and transition well to college volleyball here in the states,” Mendoza said. “She can kill the ball both in system and out of system as well as the back row and brings a maturity and work ethic that will help her find success both individually and for the team.”
- Sydney Davis
- 6-0 middle from Orlando, Fla.
- Played at the club level for Gamepoint Volleyball, helping the team to a top finish of 2nd place at the 2021 AAU Nationals.
- Named to the 2023 Junior Volleyball Association’s World Challenge All-Tournament Team, a 2024 Triple Crown tournament Show Stopper and 2024 USA Volleyball Nationals Supernova.
- Attending Timber Creek high school in Orlando, coming off a senior season where she hit .474 with 211 kills.
- Set her high school record for blocks in a season in 2021.
- Florida Athletic Coaches Association 2024 all-state honoree.
- Intends to major in Public Health.
- Daughter of Daryl and Cathy.
- Has one brother, Daryl.
- Her father Daryl is in the UCF athletics hall of fame for basketball, as is her cousin Jermaine Taylor, who also played in the NBA.
“Sydney is another middle recruit…