TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama and South Carolina exchanged set wins for the first four frames at the Foster Auditorium on Saturday afternoon, with the Gamecocks clinching a six-point win in the decisive fifth set to win the match over the Crimson Tide 3-2.
Alabama (2-8) won 25-23 in the opening before South Carolina (7-3) came back with a 25-13 decision in the second to tie the match. Tide responded with a 25-17 win in the third, but failed to close the match on the fourth, with the Gamecocks winning 25-18.
A death of Kendyl Reaugh drew Alabama to a point near the middle of the fifth set, 6-5, but a 4-0 streak in South Carolina gave visitors enough protection to hold and win 15 to 9 to win the match. In addition to a couple of leadership changes in the opening set, there were no leadership changes in the remaining four sets and only three draws over that period.
For the second straight game, Alabama set a new high for the season in team blocks, ending the game with 13. Alyiah Wells and Chaise Campbell led Tide in that category with six each, a high in the season for both players. After leading the team in the deaths yesterday, Abby Marjama returned on Saturday with 15 deaths. Kendyl Reaugh it also ended in double digits with 10 deaths, along with 10 digits for its second double-double in a few days.
BY HEAD COACH LINDSEY DEVINE
“After we found something, we needed to be prepared for our opponent to make adjustments as well. It was back and forth that we would adjust, then they, then us again. You have to wait for the teams to adjust in the SEC. For our blockers, they were focusing on the importance of presenting hands, using their eyes and everything we emphasized in practice. I was satisfied with what I saw. When we got deeper into a match, it seems that we lost the serve or the pass against other teams that kicked it to a level. This is something we have to learn and understand the importance of as we move through the season. “
STAT LEADERS
SCORE BY ADJUSTMENT
- 1st | Alabama 25, South Carolina 23
- 2nd | South Carolina 25, Alabama 13
- 3rd | Alabama 25, South Carolina 17
- 4th | South Carolina 25, Alabama 18
- 5th | South Carolina 15, Alabama 9
PLAY NOTES
- The match was Alabama’s first this season to reach five sets
- There were four draws and two changes in leadership in the starting set, while there were no changes in leadership and only three draws in the remaining four sets combined
- For the second straight game, Alabama set a new high in the season for blocks, filling 13 on Saturday
NEXT
- Alabama at Ole Miss – Oxford, Miss. – Gillom Athletics Performance Center
- Friday, February 5 – 2 pm CT
- Saturday, February 6 – 2 pm CT
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