CHARLESTON, S.C. --- Sophomore Tynley Smeltzer amassed a career- and match-high 31 digs and Emma Falk totaled nine kills to lead College of Charleston to a 3-1 comeback win over UNCW on Saturday evening to open CAA play.
 
Charleston (6-8, 1-0 CAA) won the match by scores of 23-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-18 and limited UNCW (3-9, 1-2 CAA) to a .063 hitting percentage despite the Seahawks holding a 47-40 advantage in kills. The Cougars finished the match with 11 blocks and eight service aces.
 
QUICK SETS
Final Score: Charleston 3, UNCW 1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18)
Location: Wilmington, N.C. (Hanover Hall)
Records: Charleston (6-8, 1-0 CAA), UNCW (3-9, 1-2 CAA)
 
Critical Point
With the score even at 12-12 in the second set, Charleston embarked on a 9-4 run sparked by a kill from Falk to pull away en route to a 25-18 victory in the frame.
 
Key Cougars

• Falk paced the Cougars with nine kills on 15 swings without an error and added five blocks.
• Smeltzer smashed her previous career-high of 24 digs with a match-high 31, which is tied for third on the Cougars' all-time four-set list. Smeltzer had at least seven digs in all four sets.
• Sofie Vogel continued her strong play with eight kills and two blocks.
• Gabi Bailey and Anna Smith each added eight kills while Bailey chipped in 13 digs and three aces.
• Emma Appleman dished out 17 assists to go along with three aces.
• Claire Campbell finished the match with five blocks and three kills. 

Match Notes

• The Cougars picked up their first win of the season when trailing in kills.
• Charleston posted a .324 hitting percentage in the second set with 11 kills on 34 swings without an error.
• Smeltzer is the first Cougar to record at least 30 digs in a match since Logan Manusky accomplished the feat, also at UNCW, on March 14, 2021. 

Up Next
The Cougars and Seahawks will meet in the second match of the weekend series on Sunday afternoon. First serve is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Hanover Hall.