Chants volleyball falls to Charlotte

CONWAY – In a tough four-set match, the Coastal Carolina volleyball team fell to Charlotte 3-1 (27-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-17) in the first match of the Myrtle Beach Comfort Suites Invitational on Sept. 18. 

Both teams came out fighting and it looked like either team could take the first set.  Freshman Sierra Livesay got the first point for the Chanticleers to take the lead, starting the 4-1 run before the 49ers came back to tie the game at 6-all.  The game stayed close with neither team getting behind more than three points.  With the set tied at 24-all, a kill by Charlotte’s Bianca Rouse gave the 49ers the lead at 25-24.  Coastal Carolina would tie the set back up after a Charlotte service error, but the 49ers would take the lead again after a kill by Jenna Litoborski.  The 49ers took the tough first set win 27-25 after a Coastal Carolina attack error.  Livesay led the set with five kills and three digs. 

The second set started similar to the first with both teams staying close.  Charlotte went on a 5-0 run to put them up 12-6, but the Chants battled back with the help of Megan Bickford and Amanda Russell to tie the set at 13-all.  Both teams went point for point until the 49ers went on a late run to put them ahead at 23-20.  Coastal Carolina tried to hold on to the game, but Charlotte went up 2-0 in the match.  Jill Nyhof hit .500 in the second set with two kills on four attempts and contributed two blocks. 

Coastal Carolina went on a 4-1 run to start the third set, determined to win a set.  It never allowed the 49ers to capture the lead due to Megan Pollard and Chelsy Kimes, who finished the third set with four digs to hold Charlotte to a .103 attack percentage.  Nyhof finished the set with four digs and a .750 attack percentage. 

In the fourth set, Charlotte took an early 5-1 lead and the Chants could never find their rhythm.  Charlotte when on an 8-1 run in the middle of the set to pull away with the lead and eventually win the match. 

Jill Nyhof finished the match with 10 kills and three blocks and Livesay finished with 13 kills and six digs.  Kelsie Mauck guided the team with 31 assists and Kimes added 12 kills and nine digs. 

Coastal Carolina returns to the court Saturday for its final two matches of the Myrtle Beach Comfort Suites Invitational.  The first match against UNC Wilmington starts at 12 p.m., and the second match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. against Western Carolina.