Coastal Eliminates CSU Volleyball 3-0

Senior Erin Wicker

CONWAY, S.C. - The second-seeded Coastal Carolina volleyball team defeated seventh-seeded Charleston Southern 3-0 Nov. 15 to advance to the semifinals of the Big South Conference Tournament. Game scores were 30-13, 30-23, and 33-31. The Lady Chanticleers now have an overall record of 19-10, while the Lady Buccaneers end the 2005 season with a 14-18 record.

In game one, Coastal jumped out with a 5-0 lead that was ended by a kill from Erin Wicker. The Lady Bucs tried to bring the gap closer but at a 10-4 lead, a kill from Krista Kimble sent the Lady Chants on a seven-point streak leading the game, 16-4. CCU and CSU battled back and forth point-by-point until a 26-13 game in favor of Coastal, when an attack error from Renae Popovich sent the Lady Chants on a four-point run to win the first game, 30-13.

Game two was an early back and forth battle without a strong leader until a 9-8 lead in favor of CSU. A kill by Nakia Thompson brought CCU back into the game and sent them on a four-point run. The Lady Bucs grabbed two points to close in after an attack error by Thompson and an ace by Popovich, but a kill from Katherine Jensen-Spencer led the Lady Chants to a four-point streak and the 18-13 lead. Wicker ended the CCU streak with a kill and led the Lady Bucs to four straight points for the 23-19 difference. CSU could not hold on as the Lady Chants continued to lead and won the second game, 30-23.

Coastal started early in game three and had the 7-3 lead until a service error from Kali Banghart helped the Lady Bucs get back into the game. CSU then tied the game at seven and continued to battle with the Lady Chants until an 8-8 game when a kill by Victoria Owens gave CSU the first lead of the night. Charleston Southern grabbed three quick points as CCU tried to retaliate with a kill from Ashley Scheible but could not get close enough. Wicker had another kill that sent CSU for seven straight points. The Lady Buccaneers controlled game three, but CCU did not give up. At a 11-19 deficit, a kill from Kimble brought the Lady Chants back into the game for their own seven point gain and the 19-18 difference. Both teams continued to battle to a 25-25 tie when a kill from Scheible sent the Lady Chants to the 28-25 lead. CSU battled back after a kill from Wicker at a 29-28 game in favor of CCU. At a 30-31 game in favor of CSU, the Lady Chants battled for three straight points to get the 33-31 win after a kill from Jennifer Hampton.

Jensen-Spencer led the Lady Chants with her 20th double-double of the season with 19 kills and 18 digs. Hampton added 41 assists and 16 digs. Alicia Meyers had 13 digs while Scheible contributed seven kills.

Wicker led the Lady Bucs effort with 12 kills. Olivia Terzo added 15 digs and Katie O'Riordan added nine kills.

Coastal out hit CSU with an overall hitting percentage of .235 while CSU hit at .060. The Lady Chants also tallied a total of six aces while the Lady Bucs had four. Charleston Southern out blocked CCU with seven blocks, while Coastal had five.

This win also marks the 13th straight win for CCU over CSU dating back to the 2002 season.

Coastal Carolina will host the 2005 Big South Volleyball tournament semifinals and finals Nov. 19-20. The Lady Chanticleers will face UNC Asheville Saturday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m.