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ROCK HILL, SC – The Winthrop volleyball team took its fourth straight conference match on Tuesday night as it downed rival Coastal Carolina in straight sets (26-24, 25-20, 25-18) at the Winthrop Coliseum.
The win improves the Eagles record to 7-10 on year and 4-1 in the Big South Conference, as the Chanticleers fall to 10-9 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
Winthrop was led by the offensive play of junior middle hitter Becca Toor. Toor led the Eagles with 14 kills and a hitting percentage of .560, senior outside hitter Kaley Viola finished the night with 12 kills and alongside Toor in the middle was senior Sara Felts with 10 kills and a .409 hitting percentage. Three Winthrop players ended the night with double figures in digs as sophomore defensive specialist Kristin Cruse and senior libeiro Kelsey Harrison each had 12 and Viola added 10, giving her a double-double for her ninth of the season.
In the first set, the two teams opened up by swapping points, but Coastal Carolina was first to make a run. The Chanticleers had a convincing lead at 17-12, but then Winthrop went on a run of its own by outscoring Coastal Carolina 11-6 to tie the set at 23-23. The teams traded points to tie the set up again at 24-24, but a service error by Chelsy Kimes and an attacking error by Erika Lightsey gave the Eagles the opening set. Winthrop finished the set with 17 kills and a .268 hitting percentage. Three Eagle players closed out the set with hitting percentages of .400 or better.
“We started out slow,” head coach Sally Polhamus said. “But we got it together and got emotionally stronger.”
The second set started off like the first as both teams traded points early and the Chanticleers were first to make a run. Coastal Carolina had its biggest lead of three at the 16-13 mark, but Winthrop charged back led by the play of Viola. Viola finished the set with six kills, including four from that 16-13 point. The Eagles 12-4 run was the difference as Winthrop took the set 25-20.
The final set saw the Chanticleers jump out to another early lead, but this time it evaporated quickly. At the 7-7 mark, the Eagles took command of the game and never trailed from that point on. Winthrop took the set 25-18. In the set, the Eagles finished with 17 kills and a .424 hitting percentage, their best percentage of the contest.
“Our middles opened up the outside for us,” Polhamus said. “They're finding ways to be great.”
Coastal Carolina was led by Kimes as she was the only Chantincleer with double figures in kills as she posted 18. Winthrop will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 9 when it plays host to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in a 2 p.m. matchup. The Chanticleers travel to Lynchburg, VA on Oct. 9 as they take on the Liberty Flames at 12 p.m.
