ROCK HILL, S.C. – Charleston Southern battled Winthrop in the final two sets, but the Eagles prevailed for a 3-0 victory in a Big South match Friday night in Rock Hill.

After losing the opener, 25-12, CSU played the Eagles tough in 25-19 and 25-20 sets in dropping to 10-11 overall and 3-4 in the Big South.

Peyton Thompson and Skylar Yates led the Bucs with seven and six kills, respectively, and Indigo Young added five kills without an error for a .385 hitting percentage. CSU was held to an .034 percentage as a team.

Ilaria Durante had 22 assists, and Angelika Rusin had 18 digs. Yates and Julia Fledderjohn both had nine digs, with Fledderjohn adding a pair of service aces.

Winthrop appeared on its way to an easy victory after taking the first set and storming out to a 13-1 lead in the second. But CSU was able to get back in the match, pulling within 18-13 on a run that included two kills by Yates and Young.

A kill by Thompson and ace by Fledderjohn allowed the Bucs to stave off two set points before the Eagles went up 2-0. 

The Bucs again came back from an early deficit in the third set and kept it close the whole way and taking their first lead at 18-17. A kill by Emily Struckmeyer pulled CSU within 21-20 before Winthrop scored the final four points of the match.

CSU is back in action on Saturday with a 2 p.m. match at Presbyterian.