Despite four players hitting double-digit kills, the High Point University volleyball team fell to No. 3 seeded Coastal Carolina, 3-2 in five thrilling sets in the semifinals of the Big South Conference Volleyball Tournament Saturday night at Justice Center. The Chanticleers won the match 26-24, 20-25, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15.
High Point was led by Lindsay Raus with a career-best 22 kills. Ashley Mellott had 19 kills and three blocks. Audie Gonzalez had 11 kills and 24 digs. Stephanie Wallin had 10 kills and five blocks.
Megan Bickford led CCU with 17 kills and eight blocks. Chelsy Kimes enjoyed a double-double with 15 kills and 15 digs. Jill Nyhof and Amanda Russell chipped in 12 kills each. Brett Starbuck led the defensive effort with 33 digs.
The match was close the whole way with each team getting key points to win the sets they won.
In the first set the two teams traded points, but CCU took a five point advantage at 20-10 off a HPU attack error. The Panthers battled back though and tied the set at 24. Coastal picked up the last two points off a kill from Nyhof and an attack misstep from the Panthers.
High Point took control of the second set early, going on top 15-10. Coastal cut the lead to three with a 15-12 score, but that is as close as they would come as High Point rolled to tie the match at 1-1.
High Point led to open the set, but the Chanticleers quickly took the lead and held on until HPU tied the set at 14 off a kill from Raus. Coastal regained the lead on the next rally. HPU tied the set again, but were unable to take the lead at any point as CCU regained the 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set was close throughout with neither team holding more than a three point lead at any point. HPU and CCU were tied in the final rallies at 23, but an error from Coastal followed by a kill by Mellott gave the Panthers the win.
The fifth set had Coastal Carolina take control and two kills from Kimes had the Chanticleers in front 10-6.
High Point battled back to 10-9 as Raus had two kills but Coastal Carolina regained momentum with three straight points to lead 13-9. The Panthers crept to 13-12 on a service ace from Megan Pollard but an attack error gave CCU match point at 14-12.
The Panthers got a service error to trail 14-13 and an attack error to knot the match at 14-14. Mellott's final kill gave the Panthers the lead at 15-14 and match point for them.
But the Chanticleers would get a kill from Kimes to tie the match at 15-15. A block solo from Bickford put CCU in front 16-15. Russell would finish the match off with a kill to give the Coastal Carolina the thrilling victory.
"It was a great volleyball match," said HPU head coach Chad Esposito. "Two great teams played at a very high level tonight. Coastal Carolina had chances to win and so did we and in the end they were a little better this evening. I really want to give our kids credit for hanging in there during the fifth set. We battled tonight like we've battled all year long and it almost got us to the championship game. I'm very proud of our seniors. They changed the culture of volleyball at High Point. We will miss them."
The Panthers record-setting season ends at 26-7. The Panthers set a school record for wins and Big South Conference victories at 13. They advanced to the semifinals for the first time in school history.
