Bulldogs Fall To Coastal Carolina, 3-1
September 14, 2007 | Volleyball
CONWAY, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb volleyball program got off to a fast start in the opening match of the Coastal Carolina Tournament, but fell by a 3-1 score Friday afternoon. Game scores were 30-25, 20-30, 23-30, 21-30.
The Bulldogs fall to 7-6 on the season while the Chanticleers improve to 5-6.
GWU was led by Ashley Pridgeon's 14 kills while Heidi Steinebrunner added 13. Steinebrunner notched a double-double as she also tallied 11 digs.
Katie Matykowski had a team-high 12 digs. Regina Feagin dished out a team-best 36 assists to go along with seven digs.
Matykowski led the win from the service area, slicing through the defense four times. As a team, the Bulldogs recorded nine aces to just five errors. Audra Harrison chipped in two aces while Feagin, Steinebrunner and Brett Wilson each had one.
In the first game, GWU jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind two attack errors by the home team, a kill and a service ace by Harrison. Coastal Carolina fought back and eventually tied the frame at 13 apiece. Up two at 20-18, a kill by Harrison forced a Chanticleer timeout. Steinebrunner slammed down two consecutive points for a 23-18 advantage. The Bulldogs pushed the lead to five on an ace by Brett Wilson.
After Coastal Carolina pulled to within three at 28-25, Pridgeon's kill pushed the lead to four. With the game nearly in hand, GWU forced a Chanticleer miscue for the 30-25 game-winning score.
The teams traded points in the opening portion of game two, with the last tie coming at 9-9. Coastal Carolina ran off seven of the next 11 points to take a commanding lead, but the Bulldogs fought back. Down 18-14, two attack errors by the Chanticleers and a block by Steinebrunner and Jessica Clayton brought head coach Chris Phillips' squad to within one at 18-17. However, unforced errors by GWU allowed Coastal Carolina to take control of the game, winning 30-20.
Down 10-7 in game three, Pridgeon and Harrison notched back-to-back kills to pull within one. Then, Matykowski went back to serve and she spliced through the defense on three consecutive occasions to give GWU a 12-10 advantage.
However, the lead was short-lived. After Coastal Carolina scored the next point, the teams traded points until the 21-21 mark. The Chanticleers took the next two points on attacking errors by GWU, forcing a timeout. The Bulldogs were unable to respond after the break as the home team scored the next three points before GWU could earn a side-out. Coastal Carolina notched four of the next five points, though, to close out the game with a 30-23 win.
In game four, GWU fell behind 10-6, but a kill by Clayton off a Feagin pass closed the gap. After Coastal Carolina scored the next three points, Pridgeon and Steinebrunner recorded kills, sandwiched between two attack errors by the home squad, evening the score at 13-13.
Tied at 16, a service error by Feagin gave the Chanticleers the lead for good. No matter how many solid shots the Bulldogs took, Coastal Carolina seemed to have an answer.
The Bulldogs will vie for their first win of the tournament at
4:30 p.m., when they take on Delaware. The Blue Hens downed Buffalo
in the opening match of the tournament, 3-1.
| Box Score |
| Combined Stats |
