COLUMBIA, S.C. – Fresh off a pair of wins in the opening weekend of the season, South Carolina volleyball settles in for a seven-game home stand that begins with matches against Temple (3-1) and North Carolina (3-0) this weekend. The Gamecocks (2-1) will face the Owls on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. and return back to the Carolina Volleyball Center (CVC) on Sunday, Sept. 8 for a 2 p.m. match against the Tar Heels.
Few venues feature the atmosphere of the Carolina Volleyball Center, and Gamecock fans came out in record-setting numbers last fall. The team had more games with 2,000 or more fans in 2023 (5) than in the previous 49 seasons of volleyball at South Carolina combined (3), and six of the top-10 most-attended matches in program history came in the team’s first eight home games. The Gamecocks ranked 44th nationally for total attendance (23,114) and 43rd in average attendance (1,651 per game) in 2023, despite having the smallest capacity gym of any team ranked ahead of it. The team broke the single-season home attendance record in 2023, welcoming in 23,114 fans, surpassing the previous record of 18,797, set during the 2018 season.
For fans attending home matches this weekend and all season long at the Carolina Volleyball Center (CVC), parking is available in the lot directly in front of Thirsty Fellow restaurant (behind 650 Lincoln Dorms). It is not advised that any parking occur in the lot facing Assembly Street as tickets could be issued. There is also a lot available off Park Street next to the Strom Thurmond Fitness Center as well as the Horizon Garage off Assembly Street.
The volleyball program now has a specific supporter group that is aimed at their most loyal fans. The funds generated through the Volleyball VIP Club will go directly to the program to support student-athletes. In addition to other benefits, membership includes free admission to all regular season home matches. Tickets can be purchased on-site or through THIS LINK. Single-game tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth 17 and under, and $3 for groups of 15 or more (with pre-purchase). The physical address for the CVC is 1051 Blossom Street, Columbia, S.C. 29201. The student entrance will be the doors facing the Blossom and Assembly Street intersection, for general admission and VIP ticket holders, the entrance is off Park Street.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Temple started its season with four home games over the long Labor Day weekend, garnering a 3-1 record entering Friday’s…