#3 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (20-10) vs. #6 UNCW (15-11)
Match No. 31 | Friday, November 16, 2018 | 6:00 PM ET
Charleston, S.C. | Johnson Center
 
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Twitter: @CofCVolleyball
Live Stats: CofCStats.com
Video: CAA.TV
 
CHARLESTON, S.C. --- The College of Charleston volleyball team (20-10) begins its quest for the program's second Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Championship on Friday evening, when the third-seeded Cougars face sixth-seeded UNCW (15-11) in the quarterfinal round of the CAA Championship at 6:00 pm in the Johnson Center, located adjacent to TD Arena in downtown Charleston.
 
Championship Preview
The Cougars enter the 2018 CAA Volleyball Championship as the No. 3 seed after posting an 11-5 record in conference play, and are seeking their second CAA Championship. Charleston advanced to the championship match last season, where the Cougars fell to James Madison, 3-0.
 
Series History   
Friday's quarterfinal match marks the 31st all-time meeting between the Cougars and the Seahawks, with the Cougars holding a 20-10 advantage following a pair of CofC wins during the regular season. The most recent CAA Championship match-up between the two schools came in the 2015 championship match, which UNCW won, 3-0.
 
Scouting UNCW
The Seahawks are making their fourth all-time appearance in the CAA Championship, and their first since claiming the tournament title in 2015. UNCW enters the championship as the No. 6 seed after posting a 15-11 overall record, and an 8-8 conference mark during the regular season. The Seahawks ranked second among CAA teams in both blocks (2.52) and aces (1.48) per set during the regular season. Kendall Bender (1.30) and Anna Moss (1.05) were second and fourth, respectively, in blocks per set.
 
Best in Show      
The Cougars claimed the CAA's Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons for the first time in the program's Division I era on Thursday, with Devon Rachel earning the honor after averaging 4.34 kills and 2.88 digs per set in conference play. The senior outside hitter posted 3.85 kills and 2.80 digs per set during the regular season while attacking at a .262 clip.
 
Hauling in the Hardware               
A trio of Cougars picked up postseason awards from the CAA on Thursday, with Devon Rachel and Kennedy Madison each earning All-CAA First Team honors for the first time in their careers. Senior setter Allison Beckman was named to the All-CAA Second Team - her fourth straight All-CAA nod.
 
Getting Noticed
Lauren Freed collected her second career CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday after pacing the Cougars to a pair of road sweeps over William & Mary and Elon. The junior outside hitter averaged 4.33 kills and 2.33 digs per set while compiling a .393 hitting percentage over the weekend.
 
History Maker  
Allison Beckman continues to solidify her standing as one of the best setters in program - and CAA- history, currently ranking topping both the school's and conference's career assists list during the rally-scoring era. The 2017 CAA Setter of the Year ranks second all-time at The College, and third all-time in the CAA with 4,712 assists as a Cougar.
 
Climbing the Ladder      
Senior Kennedy Madison continued her climb through the program's all-time ranks last weekend, moving into 10th on the career kills list and now stands at 1,327 smashes in the Maroon and White. The Evansville, Ind. native is in the midst of a career season, averaging 3.46 kills per set and posting a .329 hitting percentage. Both marks are good for fifth in the CAA.