Tennessee Falls at South Carolina

Saturday, November 25

Columbia, S.C.

1:00 pm

University of Tennessee

24-4, 15-3SEC

South Carolina

11-16, 5-13SEC

Tennessee

South Carolina

November 25, 2023 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina had the hot hand offensively and defensively, as the eighth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols fell on the road 3-0 (25-23, 26-24, 25-22) to the Gamecocks to wrap up the regular season.

The Big Orange (24-4, 15-3 SEC) was led by graduate student right side Morgahn Fingall, who finished with 16 kills on .467 hitting, four digs and two blocks. Redshirt freshman setter Caroline Kerr had 39 assists and three kills on the day.

Other than UT boasting six aces, the Gamecocks (10-17, 4-14 SEC) won the battle in every other category. South Carolina was fueled by 50 kills on .488 hitting, 34 digs and eight blocks.

Both teams went back and forth to open the match. After South Carolina won back-to-back points to go up 10-8, the Big Orange answered with a 7-2 run pull ahead. The Gamecocks wouldn't go away quietly, though, clawing back to even things out at 20-20. USC closed out the first set battle to win 25-23. South Carolina posted a blazing .630 hitting percentage to take the early lead. Fingall had seven kills in the period.

South Carolina continued to have the hot hand in the second frame, as the Lady Vols led 1-0 to start but trailed the rest of the way. The Big Orange fought back to make it 24-24, but the Gamecocks out hit UT .452 to .296 and had 18 and three blocks to win the second stanza.

Similar to the first two sets, Tennessee stayed within striking distance in the third period, but it wasn't enough. South Carolina closed out the match by hitting .385 and posting four blocks.

Up next, Tennessee will head to the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. The Lady Vols, who have positioned themselves in a spot to host the first and second rounds, will learn their opening opponent Sunday night during the selection show on ESPN at 6 p.m.