Final Stats

ARLINGTON, Texas (SunBeltSports.org) - The Coastal Carolina volleyball team will make its first Sun Belt Championship appearance on Sunday afternoon after defeating third-seeded Texas State, 3-1 in Saturday's semifinal at UT Arlington's College Park Center.

The Chanticleers (26-4) will face the winner of Saturday's second semifinal match between top-seeded Arkansas State and fourth-seeded UT Arlington. The championship is set for 1 p.m. CT and can be viewed on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

It is the fifth consecutive season that Coastal is making an appearance in a conference championship. The Chants advanced to the Big South final in each of their last four seasons in the league.

Saturday's 23-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-13 victory is the 16th straight for the Chants, though the first-set loss snapped a season-best 30-set winning streak.

CCU grabbed an early 5-1 lead in the opening set, but Texas State (21-12) was able to power to the set win with the help of three-consecutive service aces by Bobcat senior Ali Hubicsak. After Coastal Carolina tied the match at 12-12, neither side led by more than two until the Bobcats scored three in a row to pull away at 22-19. The Chanticleers climbed back to within one at 23-22, with the two teams exchanging points before the Bobcats pulled it out, 25-23.

Coastal Carolina went ahead 2-1 by winning set three 25-19. Texas State started strong by taking a 7-4 lead and found itself on top 10-8. The Chants then went up 14-10 on the heels of a 6-0 run, but the Bobcats were able to get back within one at 18-17. The final points of the third went in favor of CCU as the Chanticleers scored seven of the last nine to take set three.

CCU jumped on top 8-3 in the fourth set and never looked back as they were able to extend their lead to 15-5, ultimately capturing the set, 25-13.

Texas State's Jaliyah Bolden posted a match- and career-high 21 kills on a .425 attack percentage while Erin Hoppe posted 44 assists and 10 digs.

Leah Hardeman led the way for CCU with 20 kills and seven digs, hitting .390 on the day. Tahleia Bishop added 16 kills on .519 hitting and Annayka Legros totaled 10 kills and six blocks for the Chants. Sara Boothe tallied 30 assists and eight digs for CCU.