Bulldogs Drop Match At Coastal Carolina
October 11, 2008 | Volleyball
CONWAY, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match to Big South foe Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon by a 3-0 score (20-25, 20-25, 18-25).
The Bulldogs now stand at 4-16 on the year and 2-4 in conference
competition while CCU improves to 14-7 on the season and 4-2 in
league play.
Leading the way for GWU was rookie Laura Wilcox, who was the only
student-athlete in double figures in the kills' column. Wilcox
posted a team-best 10 kills while hitting .350. She also chipped in
six digs and a block assist.
Freshman Tamia Herholz and senior Heidi Steinebrunner each added
five kills. Between Wilcox, Herholz and Steinebrunner, the trio
combined for 20 of the squad's 29 kills.
Junior Regina Feagin dished out a team-best 14 assists while rookie
Evan Moffitt added 13. Herholz had the other two assists for the
Red and Black.
Feagin had a solid contest as she totaled six digs, two aces and a
block assist.
Senior Katie Matykowski posted 14 digs while Moffitt added
nine.
As a team, the Bulldogs hit just .132 compared to the home team's
.303.
In the first set, GWU found itself in an early 6-3 hole, but worked
itself back into the contest by scoring three straight points to
knot the score. The teams continued to trade points until a kill by
Megan Bickford sparked a 4-0 lead for Coastal Carolina, making the
score 14-10.
After a timeout, the Bulldogs tried to cut into the lead. However,
the closest the team came was three, 16-13, on an attack error by
the home squad. GWU eventually lost the set 25-20.
Two kills by Steinebrunner and a kill by Wilcox gave head coach
Chris Phillips' team a 4-1 lead early in set two. However, Chelsy
Kimes recorded three aces, combining with a kill by Bickford, to
make the score 6-4 in favor of Coastal Carolina.
Trailing 8-5, Herholz slammed home a kill to pull GWU within two.
The Bulldogs were unable to knot the score after tacking on another
point, but slowly closed the gap. Down 12-9, Herholz sparked a GWU
run. Matykowski dropped back to serve and found Megan Pollard
waiting on the other side of the net. Pollard was unable to handle
Matykowski's potent serve, allowing GWU to climb within one. A
Coastal Carolina miscue tied the match at 12-12.
The home team took a three-point lead only to see the Bulldogs
battle back. GWU once again turned to Herholz, who ignited another
run. Herholz slammed home a kill before serving up an ace, knotting
the score at 18-18. However, it was the last time the score would
be tied in the set as Coastal Carolina went on a 7-2 run to end the
set.
GWU trailed 4-0 in the third set and the squad got behind 9-2
before making a move. Herholz tallied a kill as did Wilcox, pulling
the Bulldogs within three at 11-8. Three other times GWU would be
within three in the set, but could get no closer as Coastal
Carolina dominated what turned out to be the final part of the
match, winning 25-18.
The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday when they play host to UNC Asheville. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
| Box Score |
