Alabama
11-14,3-11SEC
South Carolina
15-9,6-7SEC
Alabama Falls to South Carolina in Three Sets Friday in Tuscaloosa
11/22/2024 8:54:00 PM | Volleyball
The Crimson Tide is back in action Sunday hosting Ole Miss at 2 p.m. CT
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama volleyball fell to South Carolina in three sets Friday night in Foster Auditorium by set scores of 22-25, 24-26 and 22-25.
Alabama (11-14, 3-11 SEC) trailed South Carolina (15-9, 6-7 SEC) 14-8 near the halfway mark of set one but charged back soon after with an 8-1 run capped by a Paris Thompson ace to take a 19-18 lead. The Gamecocks then scored three in a row to retake the lead at 21-19, forcing a Crimson Tide timeout. After the break, the visitors held on to the slim lead to win the opening set, 25-22. Neither team held a lead larger than two points in a close set three until a 4-0 Alabama run made it 17-13. The Gamecocks slowly clawed back into the game, eventually tying it late at 22-22. The Tide managed to reach set point first at 24-22 but could not put away South Carolina, who scored four in a row to claim the frame, 26-24, and take a 2-0 match lead. The Gamecocks led for much of the first half of set three but a 4-0 run heading into the media timeout swung the lead in the Tide's favor, 15-13. South Carolina tied it back up at 15-15 and after five more tie scores to make it 20-20, the Gamecocks closed out the set to win, 25-22, and complete the sweep.
FROM HEAD COACH RASHINDA REED
"I just feel like we didn't keep our foot on the gas. South Carolina is a very good team and I just feel like we didn't respect our opponent the way we should have today."
NOTES
- The match is Alabama's fifth in conference play with seven or more aces, including three of the last five contests
- Kaleigh Palmer led the team with 12 kills, her second match this season in double figures, while her .385 hitting percentage was a season high
STAT LEADERS
- Kills: Kaleigh Palmer - 12
- Assists: Kayla Keshock - 35
- Digs: Francesca Bertucci - 13
- Blocks: Jordyn Towns, Kaleigh Palmer - 1
- Aces: Chaise Campbell, Francesca Bertucci - 2
SET-BY-SET
- Set 1: South Carolina 25, Alabama 22
- Set 2: South Carolina 26, Alabama 24
- Set 3: South Carolina 25, Alabama 22
UP NEXT
- Sunday, Nov. 24 vs. Ole Miss – Tuscaloosa, Ala. – 2 p.m. CT
