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NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Despite five Eagles finishing with double-digit kills, the Winthrop volleyball
team fell in five sets to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers in Big South action Saturday.

With the loss the Eagles fell to 7-9 overall and 1-1 in the Big South while Charleston Southern improved to 6-11 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

Winthrop got off to a quick 4-1 start in the first set but a 10-1 run by the Buccaneers gave Charleston Southern an 11-5 advantage.  The Eagles were unable to mount any substantial comeback as Charleston Southern took the first set 25-14.

The second set was a back and forth battle with neither team able to mount more than a three-point cushion.  Winthrop led 19-16, but Charleston Southern rattled off six straight points to take a 22-19 lead.  The Buccaneers had three set points that Winthrop was able to fight off, but Charleston Southern was able to grab its final point to take the second set 25-23.

Being down 2-0 forced the Eagles to step up their game in the third set.  Winthrop jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and didn't allow Charleston Southern any opportunity to recover.  The Eagles took the third set 25-15.

In the fourth set, the teams were even through the first 18 points.  Winthrop then went on a 10-3 run and opened a 19-12 lead.  Charleston Southern got back only as close as four points before the Eagles were able to take the fourth set 25-18, forcing the decisive fifth set.

The fifth and final set went back and forth.  Winthrop was able to grab an 11-10 lead, but the Buccaneers went on a 5-0 run to take the fifth set 15-11 and the match 3-0.

Jennica Mullins led the Eagles with 14 kills and also had eight blocks.  Kristin Cruse had a double-double with 11 kills and 10 blocks while Stephanie Palmer, Carolyn Weed and Rachel Lenz each added 10 kills.  Palmer also had 31 assists and Jessica Codato finished with 11 digs to lead the team.

The Eagles will return home on Friday when they host Presbyterian in a 7 p.m. contest which starts a five-match home stretch.