The Chanticleers will face Troy, Kennesaw State and Ohio State at the event.
Sept. 16, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Bump, Set, Spike Coastal
After sweeping the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational last weekend and improving to 5-5 on the season, the Chanticleers are back on the road for their final non-conference tournament Sept. 17-18 at the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational. Coastal will face Troy and Kennesaw State on Friday, Sept 17 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., and close out the event against Ohio State on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 10 a.m.
This Week’s Matches:
-at the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational
- Friday, Sept. 17 vs. Troy, 12 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 17 vs. Kennesaw State, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 18 vs. Ohio State, 10 a.m.
The Opponents
Troy Trojans
2010 Record: 4-8
2010 Conference Record: 0-0 (Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Sonny Kirkpatrich
Series Record: Troy leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Troy won 3-1 on Sept. 13, 2008
Notes: The Trojans are coming off of a three-game losing streak as they prepare to take on the Chanticleers… Have one victory over Big South’s Charleston Southern… Devin Von Pingel leads the Trojans with 2.78 kills per set and 28 total blocks… Senior setter Megan Henderson leads the team with 9.49 assists per set and 11 service aces… Libero Courtney Cohen leads with 3.59 digs per set.
Kennesaw State Owls (Tournament Host)
2010 Record: 4-6
2010 Conference Record: 0-0 (Atlantic Sun)
Head Coach: Karen Weatherington
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Notes: Was on a 6 game losing streak until their recent two wins again Big South school Gardner-Webb and So-Con’s Wofford… Sabrita Gulley leads the team with 131 kills and 4.09 kills per set… Freshman setter Sara Metroka leads the team with 283 assists… Holly Knight leads the team with 23 blocks.
Ohio State Buckeyes
2010 Record: 9-1
2010 Conference Record: 0-0 (Big Ten)
Head Coach: Geoff Carlston
Series Record: Ohio State leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Ohio State won 3-0 on Sept. 4, 2008
Notes: The Buckeyes are coming into the Invitational on a four-game win streak… The Buckeyes have only loss one game against No.16 Kentucky… Katie Dull leads the Buckeyes with 122 kills… Senior Setter Betsy Hone leads the team with 10.23 assists per set… Emily Danks leads with 35 service aces… Sarah Mignin leads the team with 2.94 digs per set… Senior middle blocker Allie Schwarzwalder leads the Buckeyes with 42 total blocks.
Bauer a Buckeye
Head coach Kristin Bauer was a member of the Buckeyes’ volleyball team, where she helped Ohio State capture the 1990 Big Ten Conference Championship. In addition to playing at Ohio State, Bauer also served as the head coach for the men’s volleyball club team and served as the coordinator of several Ohio State University Women’s Volleyball Camps throughout Ohio.
Coastal Wins Home Tournament
Coastal won its first three home matches of the season, sweeping the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational Sept. 10-11 and improving their win streak to five matches. In the first match of the tournament, the Chants blanked the Citadel 3-0 with Chelsy Kimes registering her sixth double-double of the season. On Saturday, Coastal completed the sweep with a 3-0 win over Norfolk State and a tough 3-2 victory over USC Upstate.
Bickford and Kimes Selected To All-Tournament Team
Seniors Megan Bickford and Chelsy Kimes were selected to the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina All-Tournament Team for their efforts at the event. Kimes was also named tournament MVP after registering 45 kills, averaging 4.09 kills per set, 35 digs, and seven service aces. Bickford posted nine blocks, 16 kills and two service aces to help Coastal to three wins at the tournament.
Five Sets
The Chanticleers are 2-0 in five set matches this season. Coastal Carolina outlasted Long Island Sept. 4, in the final set to secure a 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 15-9) win at the Hokie Invitational. The Chants stayed close in the deciding set, but at 5-all, Coastal went on a 7-2 run and never looked back. The Chants rallied to a 3-2 (25-20, 14-25, 25-19, 25-27, 15-11) victory over USC Upstate at the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational Sept. 11.
Coastal Keeps the Streak Alive
After defeating Long Island in the final match of the Hokie Invitational, the Chanticleers kept the win streak alive beating Campbell 3-1 and sweeping the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational to bring the streak to five matches. Coastal had a come from behind win over the Camels as it lost the first set, but won the next three, earning the second win of the season.
Lights On for Lightsey
Junior Erika Lightsey had a career night against Campbell, registering a career-high 13 kills and tied her dig career-high with 10. She also earned her first double-double of her collegiate career against the Camels.
Chants Earn First Win of the Season
In the final day of the Hokie Invitational, the Chanticleers snapped their five-game losing streak, defeating Long Island 3-2 on Saturday, Sept. 4. It was the first five-set match of the season for Coastal.
Kimes Named to Hokie Invitational All-Tournament Team
Chelsy Kimes was selected to the Hokie Invitational All-Tournament team after registering 49 kills, including a season-high 24 kills against Long Island and averaging 4.08 kills per set at the event. She also posted 48 digs and tallied three service aces while earning a double-double in all three matches and fourth double-double in a row.
Laffin has Career Match Against Long Island
Freshman Meghan Laffin had a career match against the Blackbirds of Long Island. She registered 10 kills and nine blocks to help the Chanticleers capture their first win of the season.
Gill Joins the 30-Dig Club
Freshman Lindsay Gill joined the 30-dig club in her sixth collegiate game against Long Island. She tallied 30 digs to lead the Coastal defense.
Laffin Named to All-Tournament Team
Freshman Meghan Laffin earned her first All-Tournament team honor of her collegiate career at the Deacon Invitational hosted by Wake Forest. Laffin finished the tournament with 17 kills, three digs and eight blocks, including two solo blocks against East Tennessee State Aug. 28.
Freshmen Make Immediate Impact
Three freshmen saw their first collegiate action at the Deacon Invitational Aug. 27-28. Meghan Laffin got her first collegiate starts in all three matches at the event, registering eight blocks, including two solo blocks on the weekend. Lauren Alejo started her first collegiate match against East Tennessee State Aug. 28 as the setter and averaged 5.10 assists per set in the event. The final freshman making her collegiate debut was Lindsay Gill in the libero spot, who averaged 3.40 digs per set at the tournament.
Kills the Thrill for Kimes
Senior Chelsy Kimes has recorded 150 kills, averaging 4.05 per set. She has eight double-digit kill matches, including six double-digit kill performances in a row and five double-doubles. The Chants are 4-2 when Kimes has a double-double.
Double-Double Matches:
at Wake Forest (Aug. 27) - 14 kills, 15 digs
at Virginia Tech (Sept. 3) - 12 kills, 16 digs
vs. Jacksonville State (Sept. 4) - 13 kills, 17 digs
vs. Long Island (Sept. 4) - 24 kills, 15 digs
at Campbell (Sept. 7) - 22 kills, 11 digs
vs. The Citadel (Sept. 10) - 14 kills, 11 digs
vs. USC Upstate (Sept. 11) - 24 kills, 12 digs
Kimes Selected As Candidate for Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award
Senior Chelsy Kimes was selected as a candidate for the first-ever Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in volleyball, announced Aug. 26 by the Awards Committee. Kimes was one of 30 student-athletes who were selected and to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition. Kimes has maintained a 3.84 cumulative grade point average as a biology major and has been named to the Big South Presidential honor roll her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She has been a leader both on and off the court throughout her time at Coastal. Kimes has served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative for the volleyball team and has been a part of numerous community service experiences around the Myrtle Beach area. Athletically, she is known as one of the Big South’s most lethal attackers and was recently named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, she helped lead the Chanticleers to their first Big South Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. Kimes was named the Tournament MVP and also received first team All-Big South honors. In the record book, she ranks fourth in career kills in Coastal Carolina history and second in career kills per set at 3.74. She also ranks fourth in the Big South in season kills per set.
Familiar Names and Faces
Coastal Carolina returns 10 of 13 players from 2009. The veterans include seniors Megan Bickford, Chelsy Kimes, Amanda Russell, and Kristin Cozzens, juniors Erika Lightsey, Kelsie Mauck and Simone Autry and sophomores Sierra Livesay and Samantha Palka.
Welcome, Freshmen!
Five freshmen join the Coastal Carolina’s roster for the 2010 season. New to the team this year are Lindsay Gill, Lauren Alejo, Kindra Bailey, Meghan Laffin and Michelle Fowle.
Bauer Hires Two New Assistant Coaches
During the off season, head coach Kristen Bauer welcomed two new assistant coaches to the Coastal volleyball family. Tucker Short and Pavlina Steffkova both joined the staff for the 2010 season. Short comes to Coastal after being on staff of the prestigious TCA Volleyball Club in Southern California and prior to his time in California, Short served as assistant coach at University at Buffalo as the program’s recruiting coordinator and setter coach. Steffkova joins the Chanticleer staff after being on staff at Alabama for two seasons and prior to Alabama, Steffkova served as both head and assistant coach at Birmingham-Southern.
Coastal First in Preseason Poll
In the Big South Conference Preseason Poll, Coastal Carolina was picked to finish first by the league’s coaches. The Chanticleers collected 74 points and four first-place votes in the poll. Liberty was a close second with 71 points and two first-place votes.
Kimes Named Preseason Player of the Year
Chelsy Kimes was selected as the Big South Preseason Player of the Year. Kimes, a senior from Munster, Ind., was named the 2009 Big South Volleyball Championship MVP after guiding Coastal Carolina to its first Big South Championship since 1998. A 2009 All-Big South First Team honoree, she led her squad with 483 kills, averaging 3.72 kills per set. She also topped her squad with 38 aces. She posted 28 double-digit kill matches a season ago, including a string of 17-straight matches with more than 10 kills. Kimes also closed the season out tied for second-place in the League with 17 double-doubles.
Bickford Selected to Preseason All-Big South
Senior Megan Bickford joined teammate Chelsy Kimes on the Preseason All-Big South team. Bickford remains a consistent contributor and ranks fifth in the Big South in career hitting percentage and first in the Coastal Carolina record book. She also ranks fifth all-time in total blocks and fourth in assisted blocks.
It’s A Long Road...
Coastal Carolina will start off the 2010 season playing its first seven matches on the road. The Chants will travel just over 1,100 miles round-trip on the road in its first two weekends. They start at the Deacon Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C., and then head to Blacksburg, Va. for the Hokie Invitational. The team returns home for its annual home tournament before finishing up tournament play at the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational in Kennesaw, Ga.
Crowned Champions!
The No. 4-seeded Chanticleers were crowned the 2009 Big South Tournament Champions after defeating No. 2 Liberty 3-1 in the Big South Tournament Championship match on Nov. 21, 2009. The last time the Chants won the Big south Tournament was in 1998, where they beat Liberty 3-1 and the last time a No. 4 seed won the tournament was in 1994 when Towson State defeated UNC Greensboro 3-0. Coastal earned the league’s automatic big to the NCAA Tournament and fell to No. 10 Nebraska on Dec. 4, 2009. It was Coastal’s third appearance ever in the event, having gone in 1996 and 1998, and the first under head coach Kristen Bauer.
On the Attack
Senior Chelsy Kimes hit double-digit kills in 28 matches last season, including 17 double-digit kill performances in a row and notched 17 double-doubles. Coastal Carolina went 13-4 in 2009 when Kimes had a double-double.
Chants play spoiler...Three Times
In both regular-season meetings with UNC Asheville during the 2009 season, the Chanticleers came up victorious. In the first meeting, the Chants snapped the Bulldogs seven-match win streak and handed them their first Big South loss of the season. In the second meeting, Coastal rallied back after dropping the first two sets to beat the Bulldogs in the Justice Center, snapping a three-match win streak. Both matches went to five sets and two of the three UNC Asheville regular season losses were to the Chants. In the third meeting at the 2009 Big South Tournament, Coastal took control early and beat the Bulldogs 3-0, knocking them out of the tournament.
Kimes Joins the 1000-Kill Club
Senior Chelsy Kimes reached the 1,000-kill mark last season and currently has 1,351 kills, ranking her third all-time at Coastal Carolina. Kimes recorded her 1,000th kill against Western Carolina on Sept. 19, 2009.
Coming Up Next
The Chanticleers return home to begin Big South Conference play on Tuesday, Sept. 21 against Charleston Southern at 6 p.m.
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