BIRMINGHAM, AL — Coastal Carolina University's volleyball team defeated the Big South Conference's newest member Birmingham-Southern College 3-2 tonight at the Striplin Center in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Lady Chanticleers improve to 9-16 on the season, while Birmingham-Southern falls to 9-15.

Coastal Carolina won the opening game 30-17, but lost a hard-fought second game 25-30. The see-saw battle continued as Coastal took game three 30-26 and BSC took the fourth game 19-30. In the fifth and deciding game, Coastal pounded a .583 attack percentage with seven kills and no errors for the 15-10 victory.

It was a fight for the Lady Chants as Head Coach Kristen Bauer used just six players the entire match. Freshman Nikki Hilton, who had not played in a single game prior to tonight's match, played and started all five games as injuries depleted the Coastal roster.

Junior Katie Knutson continued to lead the Lady Chanticleers as she blasted 19 kills and led the defense with 23 digs. Sarah Bennett tied Knutson's match-high 19 kills, while sophomore Carly Draudt added 15 kills and four blocks. Freshman setter Sarah Besemer set the offensive attack with 63 assists.

Rachel Malmborg and Miljana Lazarevic led Birmingham-Southernh with 18 kills each, while Kyndall Waters assed 64 assists.

Coastal Carolina will play at Georgia State on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.