Oct. 27, 2009

Final Stats

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team fell to Charleston Southern 3-1 at the Charleston Southern Field House on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The Chanticleers fall to 14-11 overall and 7-4 in the Big South while the Buccaneers improve to 12-14 and 3-8 in the Big South.

The Chanticleers were led by junior Chelsy Kimes, who finished with 14 kills and 16 digs, recording her 13th double-double of the season. Junior Amanda Russell added 12 kills and four blocks while Megan Bickford tallied 11 kills. Senior Meagan Tracey guided the team with 43 assists and freshman Sierra Livesay registered 13 digs.

In the first set, the Chants went out to an early 9-3 lead with the help of a 7-2 run, forcing the Buccaneers to take a timeout. After the timeout, Charleston Southern answered with two points of its own, cutting the Chant lead to 9-5, but a 6-1 run would give Coastal Carolina its largest lead of the game at 15-6. Charleston Southern would try to build a comeback, but the Coastal defense was too strong and the Chants took the first set 25-18, never allowing the Buccaneers to take the lead.

Charleston Southern came out strong in the second set despite the early 3-1 Coastal Carolina run in the beginning. After the 3-1 Chant run, the Buccaneers went on an 8-1 run themselves, to put them ahead 9-4. Coastal tried build a comeback, but its offense could not get anything started and the Buccaneers were playing strong. With a 12-8 Buccaneer advantage, Coastal Carolina took a timeout and after the timeout Charleston Southern went on a 10-2 run to give them a 12-point advantage at 22-10. The Chanticleers would score seven more points, but it would not be enough as Charleston Southern took set two 25-17, to tie the match 1-1.

With both teams battling to get the set three win, Coastal Carolina went out to an early 6-2 lead. Charleston Southern would not go away easy, as it came back to tie the set at 12-all. The Chants took a two point lead at 14-12 and both teams went point for point before the Buccaneers tied the set again at 17-all. After the tie, Charleston Southern would take the lead and eventually take the second set 25-22 for the 2-1 match advantage.

After dropping the second and third set, the Chants came out determined to take the match to five sets. Coastal went out to an 8-3 lead, but the Buccaneers came back to tie the set at 11-all after a 4-0 run, forcing a Coastal Carolina timeout. The Chants would take the lead again and go point for point with the Buccaneers, but once again, Charleston Southern would tie the set at 15-all. After another tie at 16-all, Charleston Southern went on a 3-0 run and took the lead. Coastal Carolina battled back from behind to tie the set at 23-all, 24-all and 25-all before the Buccaneers would win the set 27-25 and the match 3-1.

The Chanticleers finish the week on the road, traveling to Radford for a 2 p.m. match on Halloween before returning home for its final two home match of the season on Tuesday, Nov. 3 against Winthrop and Friday, Nov. 6 against Presbyterian.