Box Score

CONWAY, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team fell to the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for its third consecutive conference loss in four sets (25-18, 22-25, 25-16, 25-21) Tuesday night at Kimbel Arena.

The loss drops the Eagles to 10-14 overall and 7-5 in the conference as Coastal Carolina improves to 13-12 on the season and 6-4 in the Big South.

Leading Winthrop tonight offensively was junior middle hitter Becca Toor with 11 kills and an attacking percentage of .364. Tying Toor in kills was senior outside hitter Kaley Viola. Defensively, the Eagles were led by senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison with 17 digs. Behind Harrison was Viola with 9 digs. Senior setter Kelsey Hall finished the night with 34 assists.

The Eagles ended the night with 41 kills, 49 digs and an attacking percentage of .179. Winthrop also posted 12 total team blocks.

Winthrop took the early advantage if the first set, but the Chanticleers charged back, tying the set at the 9-9 mark. Coastal's run continued throughout the set, as they grabbed the first set 25-18. The Eagles finished the first set with more kills and blocks, but Coastal finished with 5 aces and Winthrop committed seven errors.

“We made too many unforced errors in the first set,” head coach Sally Polhamus said. “We were unable to finish.”

In the second set, the Eagles took another early advantage, but again the Chanticleers clawed back into the set. The teams traded points to the 22-22 mark until Winthrop then took the last three points of the set, winning 25-22. The Eagles matched their first set total of kills with 11.

The third set saw Coastal Carolina take a quick lead and the Chanticleers never lost their lead as they cruised a 25-16 set win. Coastal finished the set with 13 kills and a .310 attacking percentage.

In the fourth set, the team swapped points to the 19-19 mark. The Chanticleers then made a late run to take six of the last eight points, winning the final set 25-21. Coastal Carolina ended the set with 18 kills and an attacking percentage of .375.

“We struggled with passing and serving tonight,” Polhamus said. “We were unable to get into our offense.”

The Chanticleers were led tonight by Erika Lightsey with 13 kills and 12 digs. As a team, Coastal posted 56 kills, 52 digs and an attacking percentage of .239.

The Eagles will be back home on Saturday Oct. 30 as they play host to Liberty. That match is set for 2 p.m. The Chanticleers go on the road to Presbyterian College on Friday Oct. 29 for a 7 p.m. showdown.