FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – South Carolina volleyball aims to snap a two-game losing streak when it kicks off a three-game week on the road at Arkansas Wednesday night. First serve against the Razorbacks (14-7, 5-6 SEC) is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET with the SEC Network carrying the broadcast and Eric Frede and Holly McPeak on the call.
The Gamecocks (10-10, 4-6 SEC) will return home to the Carolina Volleyball Center to wrap up the week with a pair of matches against Ole Miss (10-10, 6-4 SEC) on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s opener will be at 2 p.m. on the SEC Network+ and Sunday has a 4 p.m. first serve on ESPNU.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
The Razorbacks are one of the breakout teams of the fall, not just in the SEC but nationally. Arkansas enters Wednesday night ranked just outside the top-25 and are 14-7 overall and 10-3 at home. Most recently, the team dropped its weekend series at Florida, 3-0 and 3-2, but were playing without all-conference pin hitter Jillian Gillen, who is hitting .252 with 3.74 kills per set this season. Complimenting her on the attack is Taylor Head, who leads the team in total kills (270) while still hitting .281. Arkansas’ offense is one of the best in the nation, ranking top-40 in the country for both hitting percentage (27th) and kills per set (13.75). On defense, the team is led by Auburn transfer Tatum Shipes, who has more total blocks (104) than total kills (92) this season but accounts for 40 blocks more than any other member of the team. On the back line, libero Courtney Jackson averages a team-high 3.53 digs per set and also is the team leader for service aces (24).
SCOUTING THE REBELS
Ole Miss has stepped up for interim head coach Bre Henry, who replaced Kayla Banwarth on October 20. In the three games since taking over, Henry has led the Rebels to three wins, beating Missouri twice and MIssissippi State most recently on the road. SInce starting SEC play 0-3, Ole Miss now stands in the top third of the standings with a 6-4 overall record heading into its Wednesday night home match against Tennessee. Ole Miss is another imposing offense, ranking second in the SEC with 13.81 kills per set while still hitting an efficient .250 as a team. Fifth year senior Anna Bair leads the efforts with 3.66 kills per set, but four other Rebel hitters have also chipped in at least 150 kills as well. Blocking is what drives the Ole Miss defense, both middles (Sasha Ratliff and Payton Brgoch) average over a block per set and the team sits…