ROCK HILLS, S.C. – South Carolina volleyball enters week two of a three-week road swing, heading up Route 77 for a two day tournament at Winthrop. The Gamecocks (5-2) will face VCU (3-5) on Friday at 2 p.m. and wrap up the weekend with a 6 p.m. match on Saturday against the host Eagles (0-9). Both matches will air on ESPN+.
WEEK THREE NOTABLES (CINCINNATI)
- Oby Anadi’s 15 total blocks in Friday’s win broke Mikayla Robinson’s single-game record of 14 for most in a match during the rally-scoring era (since 2001). The last Gamecock with more blocks in a match was Libby Ralston (16 vs. Jacksonville (9/6/1991)).
- Anadi’s block total is the most by any player in the NCAA so far this season and the 21 team blocks are the fifth-most in a match of any length.
- Overall, South Carolina’s 21 team blocks Friday night are the most since Oct. 8, 2004 (vs. Ole Miss).
- Cincinnati entered the weekend with a team hitting percentage of .297 through its first six matches but was held to .100.
- Friday night was the first time since Sept. 30, 2018 (Georgia) that the Gamecocks overcame a 2-0 set deficit to win a match in five sets on the road. August 27, 2021 (Washington St.) was the last time the Gamecocks came back from a 2-0 deficit at home.
- South Carolina now has three wins this season when losing the first set of a match, coming after a 2022 season where it was 3-11 after dropping the opening game.
- Riley Whitesides finished the Friday night win with a packed box score, riding a six-kill first set to hit .333 with 17 kills. The senior also added 11 digs, three blocks and three service aces, giving her three double-doubles in the first six matches of the season.
- In the 13th meeting between the two teams, Friday night was the first win at Cincinnati since Oct. 12, 1985.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
VCU has dropped four matches in a row heading into Friday’s meeting, holding a 3-5 record. The Rams are led by first-year head coach Tim Doyle, who was previously head coach at William & Mary from 2017-22 but also served as an assistant during VCU’s peak years after joining the Atlantic 10 conference. VCU’s top returners from 2022 include two-time All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection Jasmine Knight (Phoenix, Ariz.) and 2021 A-10 All-Rookie team member Kialah Jefferson. Entering the week, the two rank fourth and second, respectively, on the team in kills. Senior Ana Brangioni is leading the offense with 75 kills, enjoying a breakout season after finishing with 71 kills…