Bulldogs Fall To Coastal Carolina 3-1 On Senior Day
November 07, 2008 | Volleyball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb women's volleyball team played a hard-fought match Friday evening in front of a stellar crowd of 372 in Paul Porter Arena, but the squad was unable to overcome Coastal Carolina's .243 attack percentage in the 3-1 loss (23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 17-25).
The Bulldogs fall to 5-23 on the season and 3-11 in Big South play. Coastal Carolina improves to 22-8 on the year and 10-3 in league play.
Leading the way for GWU was the New Balance Freshman of the Week Laura Wilcox, who notched 18 kills to go along with a solo block and four block assists. Senior Bethany Martin also reached double figures with kills, netting 12 on the day.
The Bulldogs' setters had a solid afternoon as Regina Feagin dished out 17 assists. Rookie Evan Moffitt posted 22 assists and 10 digs to go along with a block assist.
On the defensive side of the net, senior Katie Matykowski led a trio of student-athletes with 15 digs. Moffitt and Brett Wilson each had 10 in the loss.
In the first set, the teams played even through the first 15 points as GWU tied the contest on an error by Kristin Wolf. After the squad's traded points, an attack error by Moffitt gave the visitors a lead they would not relinquish as it sparked a 4-0 run. The Bulldogs pulled within three at 21-18, but Chelsy Kimes' kill and a block by CCU gave Coastal an insurmountable lead in the 25-23 win.
In the second set, GWU jumped on top 10-8 as Wilcox and Tamia Herholz combined to block Jill Nyhof. The teams traded the next six points. With the Bulldogs up 14-12, the visitors went on a 4-0 run, forcing the home squad to take a timeout.
The Bulldogs tied the score at 18-18 on an attack error, but Coastal scored the next three points. GWU would get no closer in the set as CCU won 25-21.
After the intermission, the Bulldogs took a 14-10 lead on Martin's slam. After CCU pulled within one at 15-14, a timeout by head coach Chris Phillips allowed her team to regroup, ignited the team on a striking 6-0 run. However, the Chanticleers tied the match at 23-23. Then, Martin stepped up to play the hero as she put away the next two balls for the 25-23 win.
GWU started out strong in the fourth set, taking a 3-0 lead on a block by Heidi Steinebrunner and Martin. Although CCU tied the match on a couple of occasions, the Bulldogs always regained the lead until an ace gave the visitors an 11-10 lead. Wilcox evened the score at 11 apiece, but two errors gave Coastal Carolina a 13-11 lead.
A 4-0 run gave the Chanticleers a lead they would not relinquish despite the Bulldogs' best effort as CCU eventually won 25-17.
The match was designated as Senior Night since there are multiple
events going on tomorrow. However, the Bulldogs will be back in
action tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Charleston Southern. It marks the
last home match of Bethany Martin, Katie Matykowski and Heidi
Steinebrunner's careers.
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