A new era of South Carolina volleyball will begin on Friday, with hopes that positive momentum from last season can be carried into this one.
A new era of South Carolina volleyball will commence when the Gamecocks take the court in 2025.
For the first time in eight years, Tom Mendoza will not be gracing the sidelines of the Carolina Volleyball Center. Mendoza led South Carolina to four NCAA Tournaments during his seven-season tenure, but he never progressed past the second round. It was much the same last year — the Gamecocks finished the regular season 16-11 (with a 7-9 record against SEC opponents) but fell in the opening round of the postseason to then-No. 23 Dayton.
Now, Sarah Rumely Noble will be running the show. Coming off her first head coaching job at Appalachian State (a position she held for a little over three years), Rumely Noble was hired to be South Carolina’s 12th head volleyball coach on March 31. She was also the first coaching hire in any sport for current athletics director Jeremiah Donati.
With a new-look coaching staff and roster (plus a new-look postseason, as the SEC Volleyball Tournament is set to return for the first time since 2005), Rumely Noble will be looking to bring the Gamecocks to new heights.
Her debut campaign will begin on Friday in a Gamecock Classic matchup against ETSU. First serve is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be available for streaming on SEC Network Plus.
2025 preseason polls and accolades
It may take some time, though, before those aforementioned new heights are reached.
The SEC released its 2025 preseason coaches poll nearly two months ago on July 8. The Gamecocks appeared in the lower half of the projected standings, and just two spots from the very bottom.
South Carolina is predicted to finish 14th in the 16-team conference this season. The only two SEC opponents expected to place below them are Mississippi State and Alabama.
The Gamecocks’ individual players didn’t get much love from the preseason poll either. Of the 15 student-athletes on the Preseason All-SEC Team, none of them came from South Carolina.
Three returning players to watch
Victoria Harris – A 2024 SEC All-Freshman talent, Harris is already among the conference’s top liberos. Last year, she ranked sixth in the SEC (and 14th nationally among Division I freshmen) in digs per set (4.04). Harris also had four 20-dig matches last season, becoming the first freshman in program history to do so.
Alayna Johnson – Johnson had a durable, constant presence on the Gamecocks’ front line, as she missed just eight of their 98 total sets in 2024. She set single-season career highs in several statistics – including kills (236), assists (18), aces (23), digs (148) and points scored (269.5) – last year.
Kimmie Thompson – Thompson appeared in 18 matches last season, appearing in 40 sets and logging 53 assists. A native of Simpsonville, South Carolina, she has family ties to the Gamecock volleyball program outside of herself. Her older sister, Kaely, played 20 games for South Carolina from 2018 to 2020.
Three newcomers to watch
Ava Leahy – Leahy was one of two Appalachian State players to follow Rumely Noble to South Carolina. An All-Sun Belt Conference Second-Teamer in 2024, Leahy has totaled 365 career kills (1.87 kills per set) with a hitting percentage of .243.
Elise Marchal – Marchal, like Leahy, also previously played for the Mountaineers and landed a spot on the All-Sun Belt Second Team. The conference also named her its Freshman of the Year in 2024. In 28 matches, she recorded 245 kills (2.19 kills per set) and 288 digs (2.57 digs per set).
Nia Hall – Hall served as one of Cleveland State’s most valuable contributors in a conference championship-winning campaign in 2024. Her efforts helped the Vikings reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. Hall also landed a spot on the All-Horizon League First Team, as well as the conference’s All-Tournament Team.
Three important games on 2025 schedule
Aug. 31, home vs. Clemson – The Gamecocks’ third regular-season game happens to fall on the same day as South Carolina football’s season opener. But this matchup is by no means a pushover, especially with a Palmetto Series point on the line. It’s also a rivalry the Gamecocks have dominated as of late, with eight wins in their last nine games against the Tigers. This game will air at 2 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.
Sept. 24, away at Kentucky – South Carolina will take a crack at the preseason favorites when it hits the road to Lexington. The match will also be a sentimental one for Rumely Noble, who was inducted into the Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 after a decorated playing career. This game will air at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Nov. 7, home vs. LSU – Rumely Noble has ties to this variety of Tiger, as she served as an assistant coach at LSU from 2017 to 2020 and was promoted to an associate head coaching role for the 2021 campaign. There is also some upset potential here – the Gamecocks won 3-2 in Baton Rouge last year, and the Tigers are predicted to finish eighth in the SEC in 2025. This game will air at 7 p.m. on SEC Network Plus.
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Category: General Sports
