Columbia Standard

The Gamecocks look to strengthen their women’s volleyball squad with the addition of transfer Jenna Hampton. 

"We've been so impressed with Jenna as a person, she is going to fit in very well with our returning group and the culture we are setting for our program,” Coach Tom Mendoza said in the school's release. “On the court, it's Jenna's ability to make those around her better that we are most excited to see.”

Hampton, a Florida native, is a defensive specialist and libero (strictly a back-row player) who played four seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions. She will come to South Carolina for the spring semester and will play in the fall season.

“On the court, it's Jenna's ability to make those around her better that we are most excited to see,” Mendoza said. “Passers want to play with other elite passers, this spring we're looking for our players to set a tone defensively and I bet that Jenna will be one of the players leading that charge."

Hampton played libero in 14 of Penn State’s 16 matches in 2020-21 and resumed the role in 2021, ending up as one of the top defenders in the Big 10. She led all passers with 4.83 digs per set in conference play, earning her second-team All-Big Ten honors and a spot on the AVCA All-Northeast Region Honorable Mention Team. 

Over her four seasons in Happy Valley, Hampton totaled 1,077 digs and 54 service aces over 112 career matches. 

The Nittany Lions reached the NCAA tournament's regional final in her freshmen and sophomore seasons and collected first-round wins in 2020-21 and 2021.

South Carolina made the NCAA tournament last season, but fell to Western Kentucky in the first round.