CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team (4-6) lost to Eastern Michigan University (9-1) in the second match of the CCU Tournament Sept. 19 in Conway, S.C., by scores of 23-30, 23-30 and 23-30.

In game one, Eastern took a 14-9 lead after with four straight points, two with kills from Emily Busch. Eastern had a lead of as many as eight points at 29-21 and ended the game on a Coastal attack error. The Lady Chants hit .123 for the game, while Eastern hit .185.

Coastal came out on fire in game two, with a lead of as many as nine points at 14-5 on an ace by sophomore Katherine Jensen (Vancouver, B.C./Sentinel Secondary). But the Eagles reeled off eight straight points to go from 16-9 deficit to a 17-16 lead. Coastal would tie the game once more at 17, but Eastern would score four straight points to make it 24-19 and would close the game on a Busch kill. Eastern outhit the Lady Chants .234-.058.

Eastern hit .302 in game three to take the match and win its ninth match in 10 appearances. The Eagles jumped out early, scoring six of the first eight points. Coastal would tie the game at 11 on an Eastern attack error, but the Eagles stretched the lead to 20-15 before a Coastal timeout. A Jensen kill closed the gap to 21-20 but Eastern scored nine of the next 12 points for the win.

Jensen led the Lady Chants with 14 kills, 19 digs and a season-high four blocks. Senior Sarah Bennett (Eagan, Minn./Eagan) added 12 kills. Defensively, freshman Kristin Rinne (Fountain Hills, Ariz./Fountain Hills) had 16 digs, while sophomore Jennifer Hampton (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) had 31 assists and 12 digs.

Eastern Michigan, who was third in the nation in digs, had 91 on the night and had five players in double figures, led by Jennifer Nighswander’s 19.

The CCU Tournament continues Saturday, Sept. 20, with Coastal taking on East Carolina University at 11:30 a.m., and Bethune-Cookman College at 7 p.m., in Kimbel Arena.