CONWAY, S.C.– The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team (10-6, 2-0 Big South) had 117 digs, including 31 by freshman Kristin Rinne (Fountain Hills, Ariz./Fountain Hills) and the Lady Chanticleers fought back from a two-game deficit to defeat Charleston Southern University (11-6, 1-1 Big South) 3-2 Sept. 30, in Conway, S.C. Charleston Southern won the first two games 32-30, 30-22 but Coastal came back to win the last three 30-26, 30-17 and 15-13.

Coastal actually had a game point in the first game, but kills by CSU’s Melanie Johnson and Allyn Beam and an attack error by the Chants gave the Bucs the first game. Charleston Southern kept the lead for most of game two, ending it on a kill by Jenni Shepherd.

The Lady Chants made their comeback starting in game three. CCU opened an early 4-0 lead and never trailed. They ended the game on a solo block from senior Carly Draudt (Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita). In game four, Coastal hit .255 and sophomore and Big South Player of the Week Katherine Jensen (Vancouver, B.C./Sentinel Secondary) had 10 kills to give the Chants the 30-17 win, which set up the deciding fifth game.

The Bucs started game five with two consecutive points, but Coastal would take the next four, helped by a service ace from sophomore Krista Kimble (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) and a kill from senior Sarah Bennett (Eagan, Minn./Eagan). Coastal would gain a 7-4 advantage before a Bucs timeout. After CSU scored after the timeout, Coastal rattled off two straight points to make it 9-5. Coastal kept at least a three-point advantage until a CCU attack error at 13-11. Bennett had a kill to set up match point, and after two Bucs points, a service error gave the Lady Chants the win.

Coastal had its 15-game winning streak snapped, but kept a six-match winning streak alive. Coastal also is 3-0 in five-game matches and won its first match of the season coming back from a 2-0 deficit.

Rinne had a Coastal season-high with the 31 digs, while sophomore Jennifer Hampton (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro) added 26. Six Coastal players were in double figures in digs. It was the most digs by a Coastal team since Oct. 24, 2001, when CCU had 132 digs in a five-game win over UNC Asheville.

Jensen had 22 kills, which ties a season high. Hampton had a season high 57 assists and Kimble added a season-high seven blocks.

Coastal hosts Radford University Friday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m., in Kimbel Arena.

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