Volleyball Heads to Winthrop for Big South Tournament

The Chanticleers will face tournament host Winthrop on Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

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Nov. 17, 2010

Bump, Set, Spike Coastal
The Coastal Carolina University volleyball team (14-17 overall, 7-9 Big South) closed out the regular season on the road, going 0-2 and finishing fifth in the league. Liberty captured the regular season title. The fifth-seeded Chants face No. 4 Winthrop in the quarterfinal match Thursday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. It will mark the sixth time Coastal has faced the Eagles in the Big South Tournament and have yet to beat them. The Chanticleers split the regular season match-up with Winthrop taking the first meeting 3-0, but Coastal winning the second 3-1. Last season, the Eagles fell in the quarterfinals to Charleston Southern.

This Week’s Matches:
- Thursday, Nov. 18 vs. #4 Winthrop, 7:30 p.m.
(Big South Conference Tournament Quarterfinals)

Live Stats will be available at www.GoCCUsports.com

Winthrop Eagles
2010 Record: 13-15
2010 Conference Record: 10-6 (Big South)
Head Coach: Sally Polhamus
Series Record: Coastal leads 25-19
Last Meeting: Coastal won 3-1 on Oct. 26, 2010
Notes: The Winthrop Eagles, hosts of the Big South Conference Championship, enter the tournament coming off a two-game win streak, defeating Presbyterian and Gardner-Webb… The Eagles are set to face Coastal Carolina in the first round and they are currently 1-1 against the Chanticleers with their win being at home… Junior Becca Toor leads the Eagles in kills per set at 2.97… Senior setter Kelsey Hall is the current leader of assists at 9.95 per set and shares the lead in service aces at 26 with senior Kaley Viola… Senior Kelsey Harrison leads the team in digs at 3.93 per set and senior Sara Felts leads in total blocks at 105.

Championship Time
The Big South Conference Tournament runs Nov. 18-20 at the Winthrop Coliseum. Coastal enters the tournament as the No. 5 seed after finishing conference play with a 7-9 record.

When In The Big South Tournament
In the Big South Conference Tournament, Coastal holds a 23-20 all-time record. The Chants have advanced out of the first round 15 times. Under Head Coach Kristen Bauer, the Chanticleers have advanced out of the first round in nine of her 12 years, including the last eight. Meanwhile, Coastal has played in the championship match five times, having won the Big South title in 1996, 1998 and 2009.

There is a First For Everything
This year’s Big South Tournament marks the first time the Chanticleers are seeded fifth. In previous years, Coastal has been seeded first (1987, 1996), second (1989, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005), third (1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2008), fourth (2007, 2009), sixth (1991, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2006), seventh (1992) and ninth (1993).

Laffin Earns Second Big South Freshman of the Week Honor
Meghan Laffin earned her second Big South Freshman of the Week honor for matches played Nov. 8-13. Laffin, a middle blocker/right side hitter from Holbrook, N.Y., posted 21 kills on .341 hitting as well as eight blocks and four aces in two matches for the Chanticleers last week. Against Radford on Nov. 12, Laffin recorded 11 kills, hit .400 and posted five blocks and two aces. The next day at High Point, she found the floor for 10 kills and two aces to go along with three rejections.

Coastal Vs. Winthrop
Since 2000, the Chanticleers are 9-13 in the regular season and 0-4 in the Big South Tournament against the Eagles. At the Winthrop Coliseum, Coastal is 3-8, having lost there the past two years. The Eagles have been the No. 4 seed in the Big South Tournament twice and have a 1-2 record as the No. 4 seed in the tournament.

Kimes Ranks In Top 50 in NCAA
Senior Chelsy Kimes ranks 43rd in the nation in kills per set. She averages 3.93 kills per set and leads the Chanticleers with 448. Tulsa’s Tyler Henderson leads the nation, averaging 6.32 kills per set.

Chants Celebrate Senior Day
Seniors Megan Bickford, Kristen Cozzens, Chelsy Kimes and Amanda Russell were recognized on Senior Day Nov. 6. Bickford currently ranks third at Coastal in block assists and needs just five to become the all-time assisted blocks leader. Cozzens is a vocal team leader, who has seen action in 19 sets and provides a strong defensive presence when on the court. Kimes is the all-time leader in kills and total attacks at Coastal Carolina and is three service aces away from becoming the leader. Russell is a consistent contributor both offensively and defensively for the Chants having started 25 matches this season.

Hitting the Books Pays Off for Kimes and Bickford
Seniors Chelsy Kimes and Megan Bickford were named to the ESPN Academic All-District team, as presented by CoSIDA. Kimes was named to the first team while teammate Bickford was selected to the second team.

Kimes, who is a biology major with a 3.84 GPA, is known as one of the Big South’s most lethal attackers and was selected to the inaugural Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award top 30 list this season. She was named Big South Preseason Player of the Year and became the all-time leader in kills at Coastal with 1,748. Kimes also holds the record for total attacks and currently ranks third at Coastal in service aces with 162, needing just five more to become the all-time leader. She ranks sixth in the Big South in kills and fourth in total attacks. This season, she has 22 double-digit kill matches, including 10 double-digit kill performances in a row, and 15 double-doubles.

Bickford, who is a recreation and sports management major and has a 3.92 GPA, remains a consistent contributor for the Chanticleers and was named to the Preseason All-Big South Team. She currently ranks third at Coastal in block assists and needs eight more to become the all-time leader. Bickford joined the 1,000-kill club and ranks ninth on the all-time list at Coastal with 1,094. Had a career-high nine blocks against Long Island Sept. 4 and was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week once this season.

Coastal Celebrates Dig Pink With Win Over Winthrop
After being swept 3-0 by Winthrop in the first meeting, Coastal got even on its annual Dig Pink night with a 3-1 win over the Eagles Oct. 26. Prior to the match, the Chants participated in Dig Pink by hosting a silent auction, featuring golf packages, gift certificates and other donated items. Erika Lightsey and Lauren Alejo both finished with double-doubles while Chelsy Kimes tallied 11 kills and Megan Bickford posted five blocks.

Alejo Records Fourth Double-Double of Season
Freshman Lauren Alejo recorded her fourth double-double of the season against Winthrop Oct. 26. She posted 29 assists and 12 digs in the 3-1 win over the Eagles. Alejo also contributed on the service line, chipping in a match-high and career-high four service aces.

Lightsey Comes Up Big Against Eagles
Junior Erika Lightsey finished with a match-high 13 kills against Winthrop Oct. 26 and recorded her sixth double-double of the season, adding 12 digs. Lightsey also registered three service aces in the 3-1 win.

Chants Get Even With UNC Asheville
After falling in five sets in the previous meeting this season, the Chanticleers even the series to 1-1 against UNC Asheville, defeating the Bulldogs 3-1 on Oct. 23. Chelsy Kimes recorded her 14th double-double, finishing with 18 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Meghan Laffin added 12 kills and senior Megan Bickford tallied 10 kills.

Bailey Has Career Night Against Campbell
Freshman Kindra Bailey got the first start of her career against Campbell Oct. 19. She recorded a career-high two kills, three digs and posted four blocks, including two solo blocks. She saw her first action as a Chanticleer at the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational, playing in one set against the Citadel Sept. 10. On Sept. 11, she played in all three sets of the Norfolk State match and recorded her first career kill on three attacks.

Livesay Finds Her Stroke Against Campbell
Reigning Big South Freshman of the Year Sierra Livesay found her groove on Oct. 19 against Campbell, finishing with a season-high 12 kills. Livesay has been quiet for most of the season, but came alive to tally four kills in the fifth set versus the Fightin’ Camels.

Five Sets
The Chanticleers are 2-4 in five set matches this season. Coastal won its first two five-set match, but have lost its last three. The Chants outlasted Long Island Sept. 4 at the Hokie Invitational and rallied to a 3-2 victory over USC Upstate at the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational Sept. 11.   Coastal lost its first five-set match of season Sept. 25 at UNC Asheville as the Bulldogs pulled out a grueling 3-2 (25-14, 23-25, 26-24, 21-25, 11-15) victory over the Chanticleers. In the fourth five-set match of the season, Coastal fell 3-2 (14-25, 28-26, 25-20, 12-25, 13-15) in a tough match against Campbell Oct. 19. The fifth five-set match of the season was against Liberty as the Lady Flames pulled out the 3-2 win. In the sixth five-set match of the season, Coastal fell 3-2 to High Point in the final match of the 2010 regular season.

Mauck Three
Junior Kelsie Mauck recorded her first triple-double against Radford Oct. 16, dishing out a career-high 51 assists and tallying a new career-high 10 kills and 11 digs. She is one of two players in the Big South to register a triple-double this season.

Coastal Has Marathon Set Against Radford
Coastal played one of the longest sets it has played in the last 10 years versus Radford on Oct. 16, concluding with a 34-32 set win by the Chanticleers. Both teams were evenly matched as the set saw 17 ties and five lead changes. The set was close from the beginning with no team leading by more than four. At 21-all, the Chants and Highlanders went point for point with no team able to keep the advantage, forcing 11 ties. At 32-all, Coastal took the lead for the final time with a kill by Chelsy Kimes, and Meghan Laffin ended the set on a kill from Kelsie Mauck. Laffin finished the set with seven kills while Mauck tallied 21 assists.

Lightsey Keeps the Kills Coming Against Radford
Junior Erika Lightsey recorded a new career-high 21 kills against Radford Oct. 16. She averaged 5.25 kills per set, hitting .340 in the match.

Kills the Thrill for Kimes
Senior Chelsy Kimes has recorded 448 kills, averaging 3.93 per set. She has 25 double-digit kill matches, including 13 double-digit kill performances in a row and 18 double-doubles.
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
at Kennesaw State (Sept. 17) - 16 kills, 15 digs
at UNC Asheville (Sept. 25) - 25 kills, 18 digs
at Liberty (Oct. 9) - 14 kills, 11 digs
vs. High Point (Oct. 15) - 17 kills, 17 digs
vs. Radford (Oct. 16) - 11 kills, 17 digs
vs. Campbell (Oct. 19) - 22 kills, 13 digs
vs. UNC Asheville (Oct. 23) - 18 kills, 11 digs
at Gardner-Webb (Oct. 30) - 14 kills, 10 digs
vs. Liberty (Nov. 6) - 22 kills, 10 digs
at Radford (Nov. 12) - 13 kills, 21 digs
at High Point (Nov. 13) - 16 kills, 20 digs

Laffin Earns Her First Big South Honor
Meghan Laffin earned her first Big South weekly honor of her career after being named Big South Freshman of the Week for matches played Sept. 27-Oct. 3. Laffin, a middle blocker from Holbrook, N.Y., notched 24 kills, a .432 attack percentage, 11 digs and 14 blocks to help her Chanticleers to a 3-0 record last week. She started her week off with five kills, four digs and four blocks in the win over UNC Wilmington on Sept. 28. Against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 1, Laffin connected on 11 kills in 17 attempts to finish with a .647 attack percentage. She also chipped in six aces, three digs and four blocks to lead Coastal Carolina to the 3-0 win over the Bulldogs. She finished her week with eight kills, a .333 hitting percentage, six blocks and four digs as the Chanticleers downed the Blue Hose, 3-1, on Oct. 2.

Laffin Takes It To The Bulldogs
Freshman Meghan Laffin took it to Gardner-Webb on Friday, Oct. 1 as she recorded three new career highs with 11 kills, a .647 hitting percentage and six service aces. In the second set of the match, Laffin served 11 straight points to put the set out of reach for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, registering five service aces during the span, including four aces in a row. She also posted four blocks in the match.

Almost Perfect
During the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3, Coastal Carolina went almost perfect, losing just one set in three matches. The Chants started the week with a 3-0 win over UNC Wilmington on Sept. 28 and continued with a 3-0 sweep over Gardner-Webb on Oct. 1. The team finished out the week, dropping its only set of the week to Presbyterian in the first, but rallied back to win 3-1 and post a perfect 3-0 mark.

Coastal Comes From Behind in Third Set Against UNCW
In the Sept. 28 match against UNC Wilmington, the Chanticleers breezed through the first two sets, winning 25-18 and 25-15. However, in the third set, Coastal was down by four with the Seahawks at set point at 24-20, but the Chants came back scoring the next five points to win the match. Chelsy Kimes led the team with 17 kills.

Bickford Named Big South Defensive Player of the Week
Senior Megan Bickford of the Coastal Carolina University volleyball team was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week for matches played Sept. 20-26, announced today by the league. Bickford, a senior from Olathe, Kan., posted 11 blocks and averaged 1.38 blocks per set as her Chanticleers posted a 1-1 record in Big South games last week. Bickford kicked her week off with three blocks, including one solo and three digs in Coastal Carolina’s 3-0 win over Charleston Southern on Sept. 21. Against Asheville on Sept. 24, Bickford notched three solo blocks and five block assists to finish the match with eight total blocks against the Bulldogs. She also chipped in five digs and one ace against Asheville.

Kimes Tops the Record Book
Senior Chelsy Kimes became the all-time leader in kills at Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 25 against UNC Asheville. Going into the match, she needed just 21 kills to become the leader and finished the match with a season-high 25 kills. She surpassed Katherine Jensen-Spencer as the all-time kill leader in the fourth set against the Bulldogs. Last season, Kimes recorded her 1,000th kill against Western Carolina on Sept. 19, 2009.

Lights On for Lightsey
Junior Erika Lightsey has been a consistent contributor for the Chanticleers this season. She had a career night against Campbell, registering a career-high 13 kills and 10 digs. She also earned her first double-double of her collegiate career against the Camels. Against Charleston Southern, Lightsey tied her career-high 13 kills and posted 14 digs, a new career high. She was virtually unstoppable, hitting .571 on the night.

Chants Take the Kills From Hill
In Coastal’s first Big South matchup of the season against Charleston Southern, the Chanticleers held the Buccaneers to a team attack percentage under .100 for the match. The squad also kept Charleston Southern’s ace Amanda Hill, who ranked third in the NCAA in kills per set, quiet with only eight kills on the night and just one kill in both the first and second sets.

Kimes Joins 1,000th-Dig Club
Senior Chelsy Kimes joined the 1,000-dig club on Sept. 10 against the Citadel at the Comfort Suites Invitational. She currently has 1,261 digs in her career and ranks ninth all-time at Coastal.

Bickford Joins 1,000th-Kill Club
Senior Megan Bickford joined the 1,000-kill club on Sept. 18 versus then 25th ranked Ohio State. She currently ranks ninth on the all-time kill list with 1,120.

Chants Take Set From No. 25 Ohio State
The Chants closed the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 18 with a 3-1 loss to No. 25 Ohio State. After losing the first set, Coastal came out looking like a different team in the second set, winning the set 25-22 and handing Ohio State its only set loss of the tournament. During the set, both teams stayed close, forcing 11 ties and four lead changes with the Chanticleers taking the final lead at 15-14. After taking the lead for the final time, Coastal went on a 5-3 run, but Ohio State did not go away easily. The Buckeyes tried to build a late comeback, but at 24-22, Megan Bickford ended the set with a kill from Lauren Alejo. Chelsy Kimes and Bickford each registered three kills a piece in the set and three other Chants joined in the action with two kills.

Mauck Joins 1,000th-Assist Club
Junior Kelsie Mauck joined the 1,000th-assist club on Sept. 11 against USC Upstate at the Comfort Suites Coastal Carolina Invitational. She currently ranks eighth all-time at Coastal Carolina with 1,452 assists.

Laffin Earns All-Tournament Honors
Freshman Meghan Laffin earned her second All-Tournament team nod of her young Coastal career at the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational Sept. 17-18, finishing with 15 kills and seven blocks. She also registered one service ace against Troy and Kennesaw State.

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.

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.

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.

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.