CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Coastal Carolina volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to the Charlotte 49ers at the Charlotte Invitational in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday. With the loss, the Chanticleers dropped to 1-2 on the young season, while the 49ers improved to 3-0.
 
For the day, Jalyn Stout and Lauren Malone finished with 25 and 10 kills, respectively, while Cagla Bengi and Stout finished with 31 and 13 assists, respectively. It was back-to-back double-doubles for Stout.
 
Defensively, Valentina Varani, paced the defense with six blocks, while Stout, Emily Fowler, and DiLara Unal each finished with three blocks apiece. Libero Sydney Lewis totaled 39 digs on the day.
 
Charlotte 3, Coastal 2 (31-29, 21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 16-14)
 
In the opening set, Coastal opened a 4-0 advantage, sparked by a Malone spike and Stout's first kill of the day. After the 49ers used a 6-2 surge to even the set at 6-6, the two teams traded the next 16 points to remain even at 14-14. The Chanticleers pushed in front at 17-15 only to see the host team battle back to even it at 18-18. However, Charlotte used a pair of 3-0 bursts for a 24-22 advantage just to battle back to a 24-24 tie. After trading set points, the 49ers claimed the opening set 31-29 to lead the match 1-0.
 
The two teams opened the second set by trading the first 10 points for a 5-5 score just before the Chants pushed in front at 12-6 with a 7-1 surge, highlighted by two kills each by Malone, Unal, and Stout. Coastal opened its lead to eight at 20-12 with a pair of kills by Varani and a Lewis service ace. Charlotte mounted a comeback to close within four points at 21-17 using a 4-0 burst after trading points with the visitors from Conway. The Chants evened the match at 1-1 after trading the next eight points with the 49ers for the final margin of 25-21 for the second-set win.
 
Coastal opened a 4-1 lead in the third set, highlighted by a pair of points by Stout. After a CCU miscue, Coastal and Charlotte traded 3-0 runs allowing the Chants to maintain a two-point advantage at 8-6. The Chanticleers took a 16-10 lead after a 49er timeout and continued to push their lead to 21-13 with kills by Stout and Varani. Coastal scored four of the next seven points to claim a 25-16 third-set win.
 
However, the 49ers would not give up as they raced out to an 8-4 advantage in the fourth set just to see the Ladies in Teal fight back to take a 10-9 lead with a 5-0 burst. The two teams continued to match each other by trading next 13 points for a 16-16 score. After Coastal pushed in front 18-16, Charlotte used a 4-0 surge to take a 20-18 advantage and outscored CCU 5-3 to even the match at 2-2 with a 25-21 set four victory.
 
In the fifth and final set, Charlotte raced out to a 5-2 advantage, forcing the Chanticleers to call its first timeout. After regrouping, CCU fought back to trail by one point at 8-7 only to see the 49ers push back in front at 10-7. Coastal called its second timeout of the set to curb the home team's momentum. The Chants took a late lead at 14-13 but were unable to capitalize and falling 16-14 for the final 3-2 in the match.
 
Coastal Carolina volleyball will return to action as the Chants will host TCU, Georgia, and North Florida at the HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., on Aug. 31- Sept. 2.
 
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.