Oct. 17, 2009

Final Stats

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team topped UNC Asheville 3-2 (25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-9) and handed the Bulldogs their first Big South Conference loss of the season. The Chanticleers improved to 12-9 overall and 6-2 in the Big South while the Bulldogs fell to 18-6 and 7-1 in the conference.

The Bulldogs came to Conway, S.C., as the only unbeaten team in the conference and after five tough sets, the Chants handed UNC Asheville its first loss, while Coastal Carolina remains undefeated at home in conference play this season. Coastal finished the match with a .222 team hitting percentage, including .435 in the fifth set, compared to UNC Asheville's team hitting percentage of .193.

Coastal was led by juniors Megan Bickford and Chelsy Kimes, who had 15 kills apiece. Kimes recorded her 11th double-double of the season and also led the team with 19 digs. Bickford tied her season-high block total with five and Amanda Russell had a season-highs of 11 kills and 13 digs.

Kelsey Benorden led the Bulldogs with 19 kills and 13 digs. Raquel Miotto led the defense with 26 digs and Lauren Ficker added 15 kills. Cindi Miller registered 17 kills while Rachel Guinane tallied 56 assists.

In the first set, Coastal went out to an early 5-1 lead and remained in the lead for the entire set, but Asheville would not go away easy. The Bulldogs brought it within one at 16-15 and again at 21-20, but a Sierra Livesay kill and three Asheville errors would give the Chants a 1-0 match advantage. Livesay and Kimes each added five kills to lead the Chanticleers.

The second set started similar to the first with Coastal going out to a 4-1 lead, but Asheville wouldn't let history repeat itself and battled back to tie the match a 4-all. There would be five ties before the Bulldogs would take the lead at 12-11 and they would keep the lead for the remainder of the set. The Chants would try to battle back, but Asheville was too strong, hitting .375 as a team.

With the match tied 1-1, Asheville came out strong once again, but Coastal stayed in the match, forcing five early ties. After the 8-all tie, the Bulldogs would take the lead and the Chanticleers were playing a game of catch-up, managing to come back and tie the set 21-21 after a 6-3 run. The run continued to put the Chants up 24-21. Asheville's Lauren Ficker would try to get something going for the Bulldogs, but a Asheville attack error gave Coastal Carolina the 2-1 match advantage. Bickford and Livesay were a huge part in the comeback, registering three blocks each in the set.

In the fourth set, both teams were fighting to stay alive and forced nine ties with the final at 20-all. Asheville would take the lead off of the tie and stay alive, forcing the match to a fifth set. Cindi Miller led the set with six kills and Kimes and Russell each added four kills for the Chanticleers.

In the second deciding set of the weekend for Coastal Carolina, the Chants went out to an 11-4 lead and looked like they could not be stopped. Amanda Russell had three huge kills and added two blocks that were instrumental in the set. Coastal would hold the Bulldogs to five more points and two back-to-back Bickford kills would end the match, giving Coastal the win.

The Chanticleers step out of conference play and back to the road as they travel to South Carolina State on Tues., Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs return home to face East Tennessee State on Tues., Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.