GWU Volleyball Falls at Coastal Carolina in Straight Sets, 3-0
October 22, 2011 | Volleyball
Conway, S.C. - Looking to avenge an earlier season loss for the third straight match on Saturday afternoon, the Gardner-Webb volleyball team struggled with both consistency and efficiency in a 3-0 loss (23-25, 25-27, 18-25) to Coastal Carolina at Kimbel Arena in Conway, S.C.
The loss snaps GWU's winning streak at two and drops the Runnin' Bulldogs to 7-15 overall and 3-5 in Big South play. With the win, the Chanticleers snap a four-match losing streak and improve to 9-16 overall and 3-6 in conference play.
Looking to carry over the momentum from their Friday night win at Charleston Southern, the Runnin' Bulldogs fell behind early in the opening set on Saturday morning, as a GWU service error pushed the Chanticleers in front by four at 7-3.
Both teams traded points over the next six rallies, as Coastal Carolina extended their lead to five at 12-7 on a kill from Kindra Bailey.
The Runnin' Bulldogs refused to go away though, battling back with a 5-1 run to cut the Chanticleers lead to one at 13-12 on a Coastal Carolina attack error.
However, again the Chanticleers had an answer, scoring back-to-back points to pull ahead by three at 15-12 over the Runnin' Bulldogs, holding the Runnin' Bulldogs off from taking the lead.
A kill by Gardner-Webb senior middle blocker Laura Wilcox again cut the Coastal Carolina lead to one at 16-15, however, the home team refused to relinquish the lead, pulling ahead of GWU once more at 19-17 on another Bailey kill.
After back-to-back kills by freshman Heather Feldman and sophomore Tyler Cockrell knotted the set up at 19-19, another GWU error allowed the Chanticleers to retake the lead and score back-to-back points to hold on to a slight 21-19 lead.
Gardner-Webb would cut the Coastal Carolina lead to one at 21-20, 22-21 and 24-23, yet was unable to put together back-to-back points to tie the score or even take the lead from the Chanticleers, who held on to defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs 25-23 in the first set and take an early 1-0 match lead.
After starting the second set off with a Lauren Evans' kill, the Chanticleers outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs 8-2 to take an 8-3 lead on a GWU attack error.
The Chanticleers pushed their lead out to seven on multiple occasions in the second set, as the Runnin' Bulldogs found themselves trying to make up ground for most of the second set.
Back-to-back kills by GWU's Erin Anderson and Cockrell was part of an 8-0 run, capped off by another Cockrell kill, which erased a seven point Coastal Carolina lead and put the Runnin' Bulldogs in front by one at 15-14.
However, back-to-back kills by Coastal Carolina's Erika Lightsey and a block by Katie Martin and Lian Bernett pushed the home team back in front of GWU by two at 17-15.
After tying the score up at 18-18 on a Emily Holte kill, the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to retake the lead, as the Chanticleers ran off three straight points to take a 21-18 lead.
Refusing to throw up the white flag, the Runnin' Bulldogs responded with a 5-1 run, capped off by another Cockrell kill, to take the lead at 23-22.
The two teams' then traded points back-and-forth over the next four possessions, until Coastal Carolina tallied three straight points to finish the set off, escaping with the 27-25 set win and putting the Runnin' Bulldogs down 2-0 in the match.
Down 2-0 in the match, the Runnin' Bulldogs struggled in the early goings of the third set, committing three attack errors and allowing a Lindsay Gill service ace to fall behind early at 4-0.
After a GWU timeout, the Runnin' Bulldogs ran off three straight points to cut the Coastal Carolina lead to one at 4-3. However, the set of runs continued as it was Coastal Carolina's turn, this time outscoring GWU 5-1 to take a 9-4 lead on back-to-back Bernett kills.
Back-to-back points by junior outside hitter Molly Rhyne put the Runnin' Bulldogs within three at 11-8, however, again the Chanticleer answered with a small run of their own, pulling out to a eight point lead at 18-10 on back-to-back kills.
Errors continued to haunt the Runnin' Bulldogs in the third set, as back-to-back attack errors put the home team up big at 20-10.
GWU got to as close as eight down the stretch, yet it was too little too late, as the Chanticleers picked up the 25-18 set win and the 3-0 match victory.
Evans and Cockrell posted eight and seven kills, respectively, while senior libero Evan Moffitt totaled 14 digs and one ace in the loss.
Bailey posted a match-high nine kills for Coastal Carolina, while setter Sam Skryd recorded 29 set assists and 10 digs in the win.
"We must learn how to sustain effort in back-to-back matches," stated head coach Leo Sayles. "I'm disappointed in our play, but commend Coastal Carolina for a good sustained effort against us."
Gardner-Webb (7-15, 3-5 Big South) will step out of conference play to take on the Wofford College Terriers on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
Coastal Carolina (9-16, 3-6 Big South) will also step out of conference play on Tuesday night, as the Chanticleers will take on the Citadel at 6 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.
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| Box Score: Coastal Carolina 3, Gardner-Webb 0 |
