Visiting Coastal Carolina weathered a High Point rally and was able to survive a tough challenge from the Panthers, 3-1, Saturday afternoon in the regular-season volleyball finale for both teams at the Millis Center. The line score was 30-27, 30-19, 29-31, 30-12.

The Lady Chants improved to 20-10 (11-3 in Big South play), while the Panthers fell to 8-27 (1-13).

High Point led 26-24 in game one, but the Lady Chants won six of the final seven points of the game to take a 1-0 lead. After a 30-19 win in game-two, the Panthers and Lady Chants found themselves tied 22-22 in game three and traded points to get to 29-29 before kills by Kamarsha Ryan and Heather Brooks gave HPU a 31-29 win and pulled the Panthers within 2-1. But Coastal was able to apply the knockout punch and secure the victory with a 30-12 win.

The Lady Chants got double-doubles from Katherine Jensen (16 kills, 18 digs) and Sarah Bennett (11 kills, 10 digs). Kristin Rinne also provided 12 digs defensively. Krista Kimble provided six total blocks, while Alicia Meyers added five total blocks. Jennifer Hampton provided a match-high 42 assists.

For HPU, Lindsey Pickens had a team-high 16 kills and 17 digs. Ryan added 11 kills and Brooks nine. Defensively, Kim Anderson led the way with 20 digs, April Shields had 18 and Heather Butt added 10. Butt also tallied 34 assists.

The match was the final one at home for Panther seniors Ryan, Shields, and Jaime Kutz.

Both teams will return to action at the 2003 Big South Volleyball Championship beginning next Thursday in Birmingham, Ala.