Sept. 29, 2009

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

CONWAY, S.C. - After going 1-1 in two tough Big South Conference matches over the weekend, the Coastal Carolina University volleyball team came out and beat South Carolina State 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-12) on Tues., Sept. 29 in a non-conference weeknight match.

Junior Megan Bickford tallied eight kills, two service aces, and four blocks while Chelsy Kimes led the team with 16 kills and senior setter Meagan Tracey had a season-high six kills. Jill Nyhof, who is currently ranked third in the NCAA in blocks per set, continued to dominate in blocking and finished with five blocks, including one solo block.

In the first set, the Chanticleers started out looking tired from the tough weekend, allowing the Bulldogs to go up 5-1. The lead did not last long as the Chants came back to tie the set at 6-all and went up 12-10. Both teams stayed close with the help of serving to force six ties before Kimes had two back-to-back service aces to put the Chants up three. A kill by Tracey captured the first set for Coastal Carolina. Nyhof added three blocks to the set and Bickford tallied three kills for a .750 hitting percentage.

Serving was the key in set two for Coastal Carolina. With the help of Amanda Russell, Megan Pollard and Megan Bickford's serving, the Chanticleers rolled past the Bulldogs. Russell started a 4-0 run to put Coastal Carolina up 8-4 and later in the set Pollard started a 6-0 run giving the Chanticleers a 15-7 advantage. Bickford followed by serving four straight points for a 23-13 lead. Sierra Livesay and Kimes tallied kills to put the Chants up 2-0 in the match.

In the third set, Coastal Carolina found its rhythm and rolled past the Bulldogs. Megan Pollard had another successful set behind the serving line registering two service aces. Nyhof added two blocks in the set and Kimes led with four kills.

Both Kelsie Mauck and Meagan Tracey shared the role as setter in the match with each contributing 16 assists. Coastal Carolina finished the match with a .341 team attack percentage and held the Bulldogs to a .067 team attack percentage. In the second set, the Chants hit .565 and detained South Carolina State to a .000 hitting percentage.

Coastal Carolina returns to action on Fri., Oct. 2 against Radford at 7 p.m. at Kimbel Arena. It will be the first home Big South match of the season for the Chanticleers.