College of Charleston
Charleston Southern
Volleyball Tops Buccaneers in Straight Sets
9/10/2014 1:23:00 AM | Volleyball
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Led by a 14-kill performance from senior Cara Howley and a career night from freshman setter Mackenzie Cooler, College of Charleston volleyball downed local rivals Charleston Southern in straight sets on Tuesday night, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19) at the Buc Dome.
Preseason all-conference selection Sloane White was also sensational against the Buccaneers, championing the Cougars offensively with a highly-efficient 13-kill display – hitting at a season-high .571 clip. Ever-steady senior libero Andi Zbojniewicz was also on her game, racking up another 13 digs on the night.
Buoyed by a boisterous home-crowd, Charleston Southern (3-4) played the aggressor early in the first set, forcing the Cougars in to four attack errors, to take a 7-4 lead. CofC (4-4) quickly settled into the game, however, and it was all Cougars from there as Cara Howley went to work, registering eight kills in the opening frame to lead CofC to a convincing 25-18 game one victory.
After again falling behind early in the second set, 5-0, the Cougars went on to play some of their best volleyball of the season, taking 15 of the next 17 points for a 15-7 lead they would not relinquish. While Howley and White continued their attacking exploits, it was the Cougars defense that really turned up the heat, holding the Buccaneers to a -.061 second set team hitting percentage. The Cougars would eventually go on to win the set, 25-15.
The third frame was never in doubt as The College jumped out to an early 4-2 lead courtesy of three Buccaneer attack errors. After the home side drew within just one at 11-10, the Cougars took their play in to overdrive, rattling off six of the next seven points to take a commanding 17-11 lead. With their opponents fading in the rear-view mirror, the Cougars never looked back as another Howley kill gave CofC a match point at 24-18. Another Buccaneer attack soon handed the visitors the match.
Tuesday night's contest marked the 30th edition of the intra-city rivalry; a predominantly one-way series (the Cougars have now won 25) that dates back to 1993.
Next up for the Cougars is the home-hosted CofC Classic, a four team tournament featuring The College, Wake Forest, Stetson and Cal State Fullerton. CofC opens the tournament with the Demon Deacons on Friday night at TD Arena, where first serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
CONNECTING WITH THE COUGARS
For all of the latest news and information on Cougar volleyball, you can follow the program @CofCVolleyball and @CofCSports or follow the team on Facebook
Players Mentioned
