Coastal beats Tennessee Chattanooga to earn trip to the NCAA Tournament!
Coastal Carolina beat UTC 3-0 this afternoon to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Coastal waited eleven days for this match and the team was ready to get it over with. There was no question in the minds of the players as to who the favorite was or who should win, but there was the nervousness that comes when a team has gone this far and is forced to wait and continuously think about what could possibly go wrong. Except for a little rust and a few cobwebs all went well. After controlling the first game Coastal came out flat in the second game falling behind 3-7 before waking up to take the game. In the third set Coastal was up 12-5 when UTC put together a strong run by digging and blocking their way to a 13-13 tie. Coastal ended the match by winning the third game 15-13 on an ace. Strong blocking and good defense were the cornerstone of Coastal's victory. Emma Prowse (17 kills, 5 blocks, 1 ace, 8 digs) and Roberta Croteau (13 kills, 4 blocks, 2 aces, 20 digs) led the team to its 26th victory of the season. Colette Pawlyk (49 assists, 2 aces, 9 digs) handled the setting responsibilities for Coastal as she came within 3 assists of doubling UTC's total. Amy Bambenek (10 kills, 11 digs), Alicia Pulchinski (12 digs, 1 ace), Autumn Staub (5 kills, 5 blocks), Wendy Kutz (7 kills, 6 digs, 3 blocks), Amy O'Neil (6 digs), Michelle Shepherd (3 digs) all played well in making sure that the NCAA Tournament would be Coastal's destiny. "We had two team goals this season - to win the Big South and go to the NCAA Tournament. I am very proud of this team and what we have accomplished this year. We have made great strides over the last three seasons and we plan to continue moving forward." Coach Lee.
