CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team (12-9) won the first two games in its battle with in-state rival College of Charleston (18-4) and had match point in the fifth and deciding game, but the Cougars answered with three straight points to take a 3-2 win over the Lady Chants Oct. 21, in Conway, S.C. Coastal fell to the Cougars by scores of 30-23, 30-26, 17-30, 22-30 and 14-16.

Coastal took control of the first two games, coming out with hitting percentages of .259 and 298, compared to .078 and .145 for Charleston. Coastal was looking to defeat a Charleston team that had won 13 matches in a row and 27 straight matches in the Southern Conference. C of C came back in the third and fourth game, hitting .325 in game three and .350 in game four to even the match and bring a deciding fifth game.

The Cougars came out in game five and took a 4-1 lead, but Coastal would eventually tie the game at seven on a kill by freshman Ashley Schieble (Westerville, Ohio/North). An attack error by Charleston at 9-8 gave the Chants their first lead of the game and a kill by senior Sarah Bennett (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) extended the lead to 11-9. At 13-all, the Cougars had a service error, setting up match point for the Lady Chants. But two straight kills from Stephanie Ballard and an attack error by the Chants gave the Cougars its 14th straight win.

Coastal was led by sophomore Katherine Jensen (Vancouver, B.C./Sentinel Secondary), who had her 15th double-double of the season with 21 kills and 17 digs. Two other Coastal players had double-doubles, Bennett (13 kills, 15 digs) and freshman Alicia Meyers (Temecula, Calif./Temecula Valley) (10 kills, 18 digs). Sophomore Jennifer Hampton (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) had a season-high 59 assists and added 16 digs, while freshman Kristin Rinne (Fountain Hills, Ariz./Fountain Hills) led the team with 20 digs.

College of Charleston was led by Alisa Long’s 17 kills and eight block assists. Kaycie Carr had 68 assists and Sara Davis had 24 digs. C of C outblocked Coastal 15-4.

Coastal continues a five-match homestand Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m., against the University of Central Florida.