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■; • Che ©amecock Healthy USC volleyball squad ready for 2000 by David Cloninger The Gamecock After the 1998 season, the USC vol leyball team was flying high. Despite a loss in the NCAA Tourna ment, the team had finished second in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Divi sion for the second straight year, placed freshman Cally Plummer on the fust team All-SEC team and won 20 matches or more for the fifth straight season. But, as promising as the 1999 team appeared to be, bad luck was waiting for the new Gamecock squad. Kami Nordgaard, a player expected to fill the departure of graduating setter Ashley Edlund, left USC. Plummer, USC’s leading offensive threat a year before, was lost for the fijst seven matches after a nagging shoulder injury kept her from playing. Although Plummer recovered to play in a loss to Michigan, the injury was re-aggravated, forcing her out of action for the remain der of the season. Senior co-cap tain Crystal Moore was kept out of several Gamecock matches, also because of injuries. Dealing with these setbacks perhaps as best she could, head coach Kim Christo pher led her wounded team to a 14-12 record, 8-6 in the SEC, which claimed an other second-place finish in the East. Also, with four unproven freshmen to fill the void left by Plummer, Moore and the graduated class, Christopher plugged up holes at middle blocker and setter by uti lizing the four almost extensively. With the hardships behind her, Christo pher has improved her lineup this sea son with four highly-touted recruits, sched uled two tournaments in the friendly con fines of the Volleyball Competition Cen ter and welcomes a healthy Plummer back to the team. “This is a pretty talented group,” Christopher said. “We’ll be in a position to have various lineups and we’ll be deep er, barring injuries.” In short, the Gamecocks will be a force to be reckoned with this fall, as they strive for their fourth NCAA appear ance in the past six years. “Wfe had to rely on freshmen,” Christo pher said of her 1999 team. “Wfe were just plagued with injuries.” Plummer, who gained a redshirt year from her injury last season, will return to lead the Gamecock offense. As a fresh man, Plummer led the team in service aces while becoming the first female USC athlete to make the first team All-SEC squad. She finished second nationally in service aces, while also finishing second on the team in hitting. “Cally’s certainly a person we’ve re lied on, not only physically but also be cause she’s a natural leader,” Christopher said. “From a leadership position, she’s been a great influence on the team.” Also returning will be sophomore Bema Dwyer, who made second-team all conference last season and led the team in kills while playing three positions. La beled by Christopher as “one of the most well-rounded players” on the team, the 6-3 sophomore will be used to bolster both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Along with her returning class, Christopher recruited four freshmen in the off-season, two of which have been named to the All-Star Sports Super 75 team. Amy Pratt, a 5-8 setter, and Don isa “Niece” Curry, a 6-3 middle block er, are both coming from Michigan. Cur ry, a former high school teammate of Plummer and sophomore Sam Alban, has also been named one of Volleyball Monthly’s Fab 50 prospects for 2000. Nadia Sfferovich and Mariana Bran quinho will transfer to Carolina from other schools. Sfferovich, a high-school teammate of Dwyer is coming from the University of Arizona, while Branquinho will be arriving from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Althnncrh ln«f Mnnro accic. tant coach Scott Sandel, and one of its brightest offensive stars in Danika Tay lor, the team seems poised to take to the court for another competitive season. Besides a three-tournament non-con ference schedule and intrastate rival Clemson to contend with, USC will have to face SEC powerhouse Florida twice, along with the Lady Bulldogs of Geotgia. These two teams usually fin ish in the top three of the SEC East, and are always dangerous in the postseason. “Our schedule is about the same [in difficulty] as last year,” Christopher said. “Wfe have several Top 25 schools on the schedule, we open up with Duke, we have Texas Tech coming in here — it should be challenging.” However, despite the tough sched ule, Christopher and the Gamecocks will contend once again for the SEC crown. The action begins Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. at the \folleyball Competition Cen ter, adjacent to the Carolina Colise um. The Gamecocks will take on Lib erty and then have a 7 p.m. match against Duke in the first day of the Carolina Classic. we'll push you to [edge], then tell you to jump. You know it’s in you. The desire to go farther. To start where others stop. It’s why you should consider Army ROTC. It’s a class where you’ll face unique challenges while developing skills like how to think on your feet and be a good leader. Register today. And hold on tight. 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