CLICK HERE FOR MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
CHARLESTON, S.C. - College of Charleston returned to TD Arena with an outstanding performance, sweeping the SoCon-leading Appalachian State Mountaineers, 3-0, in volleyball action on Friday night.
The Cougars improved to 7-2 in conference play and moved to 16-9 on the season. The win extended College of Charleston's home conference match winning streak to 17, dating back to 2009. Appalachian State fell to 15-8 on the season and 7-2 in conference play.
Despite only hitting .190 on the match, the Cougar defense recorded 13 team blocks, the second-most for CofC this season, while holding Appalachian State to a .084 hitting percentage. Senior Sarah Havel led the way defensively, tying her season-best output with eight total blocks while also making eight kills. Sophomore Taeler Davis made five block assists and 35 assists.
Freshman Sloane White led the way with nine kills while junior Kelly Kolich hit a team-best .700 by making seven kills with no errors. Freshman Lizzie Theesfeld recorded a match-high 15 digs, while senior Hayley Harrell broke double digits with 10 digs.
"We didn't play as efficiently as we have this season, but we scrapped and battled for every point," head coach Jason Kepner said. "We made playing with intensity a point of emphasis all week, and I thought we showed that tonight."
Appalachian State was led by Maggie Seeds and Alison Blasingame who each made eight kills. Courtney Rhein recorded 13 digs.
College of Charleston broke a 16-16 tie in the first set by winning the next four points off of kills from Theesfeld, Davis and Havel, followed by a block from Havel. Despite four points won by the Mountaineers on set point, a kill from Kerstin Koehler gave the Cougars a 25-20 set one victory. White led the Cougars with four kills in the first set, while Theesfeld made eight digs.
The second set was nearly identical to the first with both teams trading points to force a tie at 16. The Cougars scored five of the next six points to go up 21-17 after an ace from White that forced an ASU timeout. A block from Havel and Davis followed by a Kolich kill ended the second set for College of Charleston, 25-20.
The Cougars jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the third set before three straight blocks from Appalachian State capped a momentous run that tied the set at 11. However, the Cougars were able to pull away with a kill from White and consecutive blocks from Havel that sealed a 25-16 set victory. Kolich made five kills in the final set while White made four.
College of Charleston continues the home stand on Saturday, October 22 with a 6 p.m. match against Western Carolina.
