MOBILE, Ala. – The Coastal Carolina volleyball team fell 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-5) to the South Alabama Jaguars, wrapping up the regular-season road schedule in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, CCU dropped to 17-10 on the season and 9-5 in Sun Belt Conference action. The Jaguars improved to 16-10 overall and 10-4 in league play, with the win.
 
The Chanticleers were led by Ella Saada with 23 kills, while Paulina Perez Rosas and Lauren Malone added 13 and six spikes, respectively. Setter Brigitta Petrenko tallied 43 assists on the day, along with a pair of service aces to help the offensive attack.
 
Defensively, Nyla Shepherd finished with a team-high seven blocks, while Perez Rosas, Petrenko, and Christina Nance each had three stops. Defensive specialist Lina Perugini (16) and Perez Rosas (10) combined for 26 of the Chant's 54 team digs.
 
In the opening set, Coastal raced out to the early 5-1 lead, highlighted by a pair of putdowns by Shepherd. Both teams traded the next six points with the Chanticleers maintaining the four-point advantage at 8-4, only to see South Alabama go ahead 14-10 by way of a 10-2 run.
 
The host team increased its lead to 19-13 coming out of the media timeout by outscoring CCU 5-2 before the Chants cut the deficit to one point at 22-21 using an 8-3 surge, sparked by a Saada spike, and topped off by a Perez Rosas putdown to force the Jaguars to call its second timeout of the set. USA picked up the opening set win at 25-21 by scoring the final three points of the set.
 
While leading 1-0 in the match, South Alabama sensed blood and jumped out to an early 10-4 advantage before the home-standing Jaguars doubled-up the visitors from Coastal Carolina at 16-8. Malone's kill sparked an 11-2 burst, which was capped by a block assist by Petrenko and Shepherd to give the Chants a 19-18 advantage and forced the Jags to call their second timeout of the run.
 
Coming out of the timeout, USA pulled in front with a pair of kills, only to see the Chants score four unanswered points for the 23-20 lead. After a pair of Jaguar points forced Coastal to call its second timeout of the set, the Chants scored two of the final three points on a pair of spikes by Saada to even the match at 1-1 with the 25-23 second-set win.
 
With the match even at 1-1, Coastal pushed out to the 5-4 lead to start the third set, highlighted by a pair of kills by Malone. After both teams played evenly over the next few rallies, the Chants held a 10-8 advantage with both teams making several errors.
 
The Chanticleers increased their lead to 14-10, sparked by a Perez Rosas kill and capped off by a USA timeout after a Jaguar attack error. Coming out of the timeout, South Alabama outscored CCU 4-2 to pull within two points at 16-14.
 
A Saada putdown sparked a 5-0 surge for the Chants and included forcing the Jags to call their second timeout of the set. Coastal picked up the third-set win by trading the final seven points with the Jaguars for the 25-17 win and 2-1 match lead.
 
In the fourth set, the host squad doubled-up the Chants at 6-3 for the early lead, only to see CCU battle back to even the score up at 9-9, highlighted by a pair of kills by Saada. South Alabama scored four unanswered and forced the visitors from Conway to call its first timeout of the set trailing 13-9.
 
The Chanticleers answered with a 5-1 surge, sparked by a Saada spike and capped by a USA miscue to even the score at 14-14. However, South Alabama took control of the fourth set with a 10-1 run for the 24-15 lead and forced the Chants to call their second timeout of the set. Coastal fired off three unanswered to pull within six points at 24-18 just before the Jags evened the match up at 2-2 set each with the 25-18 set win.
 
In the fifth and final set, the Chanticleers scored first only to see the host team flex its muscles and outscore Coastal Carolina 15-4 for the 3-2 match win. CCU's Saada and Shepherd combined for all five of the Chanticleers' points.
 
 
Coastal Carolina will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 10, as the Chanticleers will host Texas State in Conway, S.C., for the final weekend of regular season play. The first serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.
 
For complete coverage of CCU women's volleyball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalVball (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.