No. 2 Coastal Carolina Defeats No. 1 Radford, 3-2, to Win Big South Volleyball Championship
BOX SCORE | TOURNAMENT BRACKET
CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina edged Radford, 3-2 (25-14, 15-25, 25-21, 20-25, 16-14) to win the 2014 Big South Volleyball Championship presented by Musco Sports Lighting Sunday at The HTC Center on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Coastal Carolina (25-6) wins its fourth Big South Championship and captures the Big South’s automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship. Radford ends its season at 24-8 overall.
The Chanticleers win their first Big South Volleyball crown since 2009 and fourth in Conference history. Coastal Carolina is the second No. 2 seed in five years to win the Conference title and sixth overall. Coastal, which is now 4-2 all-time in the postseason against Radford, earns its fourth NCAA Tournament berth.
Katie Martin led the Chanticleers to the championship with 24 kills on 63 attacks, with five digs, two solo blocks and 26.5 points. Big South Player of the Year and Freshman of the year Leah Hardeman tallied 24 kills on a .278 hitting percentage with 14 digs, two solo blocks and a service ace, good for her 14th double-double of the season. Sam Skryd had 52 assists with 19 digs and Lian Bernett tallied 16 digs on her way to seven points, while libero Jenna Orner put up 31 digs for the Chants.
For the runner-up Highlanders, senior Rachel Wiechecki hit 19 kills and 24 digs, good for 20 points, a .241 hitting percentage and her 21st-consecutive double-double match. Savanna Burton hit up three service aces, 12 kills and 14 digs with 16 points, while Savannah Cantrell hit seven kills and two solo blocks for the Highlanders.
"That was an incredible match. Both teams played at a high level, but Coastal was able to make the plays it needed to down the stretch to win,” said Radford head coach Marci Jenkins. “I am so proud of this team and what these young women have accomplished. Our five seniors helped bring Radford back into the championship picture. We congratulate Coastal on the championship and wish them luck in the NCAA Tournament.”
The fifth set saw no more than a two point lead as both teams were back-and-forth with a tie and the lead. The score was tied nine times in the 16-point set, before Coastal Carolina brought the set to 15-13 and eventually won the set and the championship, 16-14.
In set one, Coastal took the lead after the 5-5 and a few Hardeman kills brought the score to 12-7, before Coastal went on a 6-0 run to take the match to set point. At 23-12, Radford took two more points before a Martin kill took set one for the Chants.
Radford took the lead early in set two and never let Coastal have it back. A Savanna Burton kill sparked Radford’s 7-0 run to go up on Coastal, 20-12. Coastal responded with three points in a row, but Radford sealed the deal at 25-15 for set two. In the third set, Coastal took an early lead and a late rally by Radford brought it back to 24-21, but a kill by Martin took the third set for Coastal to lead the match, 2-1. Started by an early Coastal lead, Radford didn’t tie the Chanticleers in set four until each team was 10 points in. Upon a Burton kill, Radford went on a 6-0 run and continued it to a 10-3 run to eventually take the match, 25-19.
Coastal Carolina will receive its fourth NCAA Tournament berth, to be played the first week of December.
“We laid it all on the line today,” said Radford senior Rachel Wiechecki. “There were so many big-time plays made out there on both sides. It hurts we weren’t able to repeat as tournament champions, but I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to play with this team.
“When I came to Radford four years ago, I wanted to help the program return to what it once was: a championship contender. With that being said, this senior class accomplished that and much more.”
All-Tournament Team
Katie Martin, MB, Sr., Coastal Carolina – Tournament MVP
Jenna Orner, DS, Sr., Coastal Carolina
Sam Skryd, S, R-Sr., Coastal Carolina
Rachel Wiechecki, OH, Sr., Radford
Savannah Cantrell, MB, Sr., Radford
Gabi Mirand, S, R-Jr., High Point
Maria Volstad, L, So., Winthrop
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