Sept. 21, 2010

Final Stats
Post-match Interview with Head Coach Kristen Bauer
Post-match Interview with Erika Lightsey

CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team opened up Big South Conference play with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-23) victory over Charleston Southern on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at Kimbel Arena. The Chanticleers even their overall record to 7-7 and improve to 1-0 in the conference while the Buccaneers fall to 5-9 overall and 0-1 in the Big South.

Prior to the match, head coach Kristen Bauer recognized seniors Megan Bickford and Chelsy Kimes on joining the 1,000-kill and 1,000-dig clubs. Bickford recorded her 1,000th kill on Sept. 18 at the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational against the then 25th ranked Ohio State. Kimes recorded her 1,000th dig on Sept. 10 against the Citadel at the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational.

Junior Erika Lightsey finished with 13 kills and 14 digs, hitting .571 on the night. Senior Chelsy Kimes added 15 kills and freshman Lindsay Gill registered 22 digs. Kelsie Mauck dished out 21 assists and Megan Bickford posted three blocks in the match.

Coastal set the tone in set one, going on a 9-2 run in the middle of the set to put the Chants up 23-13. Charleston Southern tried to rally, picking up three points, but it was not enough as a kill by Kimes and a Buccaneer attack error ended the set in Coastal's favor. Kimes led the set for the Chants with five kills and Megan Bickford posted two blocks.

In the second set, Charleston Southern went out to an early 4-0 lead, but Coastal battled back to tie the set at 9-all. After five lead changes and nine ties, the Chanticleers took the lead for the final time, going on a 5-1 run to win the set. Kimes and Lightsey each registered four kills a piece for Coastal and Cori Holeman of Charleston Southern came up big with four kills.

In the third and final set, both teams fought hard and stayed close with the Chants taking the final lead at 15-all. The Buccaneers gradually fought back and brought the set to within one at 22-21 before Coastal went on a 3-2 run, ending the match on a Lightsey kill. Kimes added another six kills in the set while Lightsey recorded five.

Coastal held the Buccaneers to a team attack percentage under .100 and kept Amanda Hill, who ranks third in the NCAA in kills per set at 4.95, to only eight kills on the night and just one kill in both the first and second sets.

The Chanticleers are back on the road, traveling to Asheville, N.C. to face the 2009 Big South co-regular season champion UNC Asheville on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m.