The Nittany Lions erupted with three unanswered goals in the second period to defeat the Tommies.
The Nittany Lions made 15 threes over the course of the game, which tied a program record.
While he didn't want to make excuses, it was tough for Jeff Cook's side to deal with a tumultuous week complicated by a non-COVID-19 illness.
The Nittany Lions were shocked in a big way by Hofstra in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Penn State women's volleyball (19-9, 12-6 Big Ten) lost to No. 10 Ohio State (23-5, 13-6 Big Ten) in four sets Saturday afternoon (23-25, 25-22, 11-25, 21-25).
The Nittany Lions played a strong first half to match South Carolina, but were unable to get back on their feet after the Gamecocks scored twice in the second half.