RADFORD, Va. - The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team defeated No. 5 High Point 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-13) in the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament. The Chanticleers improve to 17-17 overall and the Panthers finish their season at 18-13. Coastal awaits the winner of the UNC Asheville/Radford match at 7 p.m.
In the first set, Coastal Carolina jumped out to a 7-3 lead early and kept the momentum going, never trailing in the first set. At 9-6, the Chants went on a 6-1 run to put them up 15-7, but the Panthers would stay close and later go on a 5-0 run themselves after coming out of a timeout, forcing Coastal to take a timeout at 20-17. High Point would eventually tie the match at 23-23, the only tie of the set, but never took the lead as an attack error by High Point and a kill by freshman Sierra Livesay would end the set and give Coastal a 1-0 advantage.
In the second set, it was all High Point. Coastal tied the score three times, but could never find the momentum to take the lead. The Chants came to within one twice, but the Panthers never backed down and took the second set to tie the match 1-1.
Coastal Carolina jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the third set, forcing High Point to call a timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Panthers got one point before the Chants went on a 3-0 run to put them up 10-3. High Point never gave up and, at 20-12, went on a 5-0 run. The Panthers eventually battled back to tie the set at 23-all, but never took the lead. A kill by Livesay and a service ace from Megan Bickford won the set for the Chants to give them a 2-1 lead.
High Point started out the fourth set on the attack, but the Chants battled back to take a 9-6 lead. Both teams would stay close with 12 ties and six lead changes, the final tie at 20-all. The Panthers took the final lead of the set and Coastal could not build a comeback, forcing the match into the deciding set.
With both teams fighting to stay in the tournament, High Point went out to a 3-1 lead early in the fifth set, but the Chants didn't give up and fought back to tie the set at 4-all. High Point regained the lead on the next point, and Coastal had to battle again to tie the set at 6-6. After the tie, the Chants would take the final lead of the match by going on a 5-1 run to lead 11-7. High Point went on a 3-0 run themselves, but it would not be enough as Coastal Carolina never relinquished the lead in taking the five-set match.
Both teams were almost even on the attack on the night, as Coastal Carolina finished with a .222 team attack percentage compared to High Point's .240.
Livesay, the 2009 Big South Freshman of the Year, led the Chants with 16 kills, registering 12 of her 16 kills in the last three sets. Junior Chelsy Kimes finished with 15 kills and 12 digs for her 16th double-double of the season. Senior Megan Pollard registered 16 digs and Jill Nyhof posted five blocks and 10 kills. Stephanie Wallin led the Panthers with 17 kills and Julie Hershkowitz finished with 25 digs. Anna Lott posted five blocks and Holly Fong guided the team with 54 assists.
The No. 4 Chanticleers will return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. to play the winner of the UNC Asheville/Radford match.
