CONWAY, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb University volleyball team fell in straight sets on Thursday night at Coastal Carolina, unable to close the deal and falling by a 3-0 score.

All three sets were played to a close finish in Conway, but the Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to catch the break they needed near the end of each allowing Coastal Carolina to grab the win. 

In the first, GWU was quick out of the gates, leading 5-1 before those in the stands could blink. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Cayton White brought down three early kills in a row to ignite the Runnin' Bulldogs. Coastal Carolina would eventually climb back in the contest however, trading the lead with GWU for much of the first set before scoring the final four points for a 25-18 win and a 1-0 lead.

The second was even closer, but this time it was the Runnin' Bulldogs turn to stage a rally. After falling behind by four early in the set, GWU used a run of six of the next seven points to sprint out to a 13-12 lead. White was again in on the action, as was freshman outside hitter Isabel Sandstrum, but the Red and Black were unable to inch out any further, trading points down the stretch of a 25-22 Coastal win,

And in the third set, the teams once again traded blows before Coastal just narrowly pulled away at the finish line. 14-9, Coastal became 17-16, Gardner-Webb after a series of attack errors in order on the home side. Much like the opening two sets however, a late Coastal push saw the Runnin' Bulldogs fall 25-23, and 3-0 in the match.

Individually, White led Gardner-Webb with 17 kills, while sophomore libero Molly Littlefield recorded 16 digs in the contest.

A swing along the coast continues on Friday for Gardner-Webb volleyball, where the 'Dawgs face UNC Charlotte and UNC Wilimington each on Friday.