CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team defeated South Carolina State 3-0 (25-15, 25-12, 25-10) Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Kimbel Arena. The win moves the Chanticleers to 15-7 overall, and drops the Bulldogs to 7-18 on the year.

Coastal Carolina posted its 15th victory of the season matching last year's win total, with 11 matches remaining on the regular season schedule. All 14 players on the roster entered the match as the Chanticleers overwhelmed their opponents amassing 41 kills, including 18 in the first set, while the Bulldogs mustered nine kills in the contest.

South Carolina State played consistently in the first set, hustling to every ball and would trail Coastal Carolina 8-4 before calling a timeout. The Chanticleers potent attack became too much for the Bulldogs as sophomores Amanda Russell (Liberty, Ind./Union County) and Megan Bickford (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) combined for seven of the next 11 kills by Coastal Carolina after the timeout, to take the first set 25-15.

The second frame paralleled the first as the Chanticleers pulled ahead 8-4 before going on a five-point rally to pull away 13-4. The Bulldogs had a series of attack errors throughout the set and struggled to find an offensive presence, leaving the door open for the Chants. Russell and sophomore Chelsy Kimes (Munster, Ind./Munster) recorded four kills each in the frame, giving Coastal Carolina a 25-12 victory in the set.

The Chanticleers got on the scoreboard quickly out of the break, jumping to a 9-2 advantage hungry for the sweep. The Bulldogs would show some fight pulling to within three points of the Chanticleers at 9-6. After exchanges of points, a service error by the Bulldogs gave the Chanticleers a 13-8 edge, as junior Megan Pollard (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) stepped up to serve. Pollard would serve up the next 11 points, including four service aces, as the Chanticleers dominated the end of the third set, coasting to a 25-10 win.

Russell led all players with 12 kills on 18 attacks for a .556 hitting percentage in the match. Junior Meagan Tracey (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) had 30 assists on the night while Pollard nabbed seven digs in the contest.   

Coastal Carolina will now head back to Big South Conference play, where they sit in third spot with a 4-2 record in the league. The Chants travel to Clinton, S.C. to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose Friday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.