Sept. 7, 2008

KINGSTON, R.I. - After leading the South Carolina volleyball team to the Art Carmichael Classic championship, redshirt senior middle blocker Belita Salters was chosen by the participating coaches as the tournament's most valuable player. Outside hitters Ivana Kujundzic and Annie Thomas also were selected to the all-tournament team.

Salters tallied a .463 hitting percentage in the University of Rhode Island event, averaging 2.82 kills and 0.73 blocks per set. She now leads the Gamecocks with a .392 hitting percentage while ranking second on the team with a 2.96 kills-per-set average.

Kujundzic compiled a 3.55 kills-per-set mark on the weekend, hitting .262 in the process. The Subotica, Serbia, junior also led the squad with 0.45 aces per set while ranking second with her 3.45 digs per frame. The junior leads the Gamecocks with a 3.26 kills-per-set average in 2008.

Thomas hit .328, tops among the Gamecock outside hitters, while averaging 2.36 kills per set. For the year, the sophomore has a 1.78 kills-per-set average.

The Carolina Gamecocks open their home slate at the Volleyball Competition Facility on Friday morning with the start of the Carolina Challenge. The Garnet and Black will face the College of Charleston at 10 a.m. to start the two-day event that also will bring Winthrop and Clemson to Columbia.