JONESBORO, Ark. – The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are the Sun Belt Volleyball Champions for the second consecutive season after downing Texas State, 3-1, on Sunday at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro.
It will be the fourth consecutive trip to the NCAAs and second while a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
CCU's Leah Hardeman was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Performer after posting 40 kills in two matches along with 29 digs. She posted back-to-back double-doubles for the Chanticleers.
With the win, Coastal improved to 20-7 on the season and will now await their fate as the NCAA Women's Volleyball selection show is set for Sunday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. (CT). Texas State falls to 24-9 on the season after making its first appearance in the league final since 2014. The season will continue for the Bobcats as the team has earned an automatic bid into the 2017 National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The bracket for the NIVC tournament will be announced following the NCAA selection show.
Hardeman finished the final with 21 kills andm 16 digs to pace the Chants. Kyla Manning added 19 kills for the champions and Sydney Alvis chipped in 27 digs for CCU. All three players were named to the All-Tournament team following the championship.
Amy Pflughaupt led Texas State with 13 kills, while Madison Daigle (11) and Megan Porter (10) also reached double figures for the Bobcats. Erin Hoppe dished out 30 assists for a tournament total of 80 and Micah Dinwiddie finished with a team-high 24 digs.
Pflughaupt and Dinwiddie were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
Coastal Carolina jumped on top by squeezing out a 25-23 first-set triumph. Neither team led by more than three at any point in the set. The two sides played to a 22-22 standstill before the Chanticleers closed on a 3-1 run to finish off the first set.
The Bobcats drew even by taking the second-set, 25-23. CCU initially went ahead 7-3 before the Bobcats used a 5-1 run to tie the frame at 8-8. Texas State took a 21-15 advantage, but Coastal Carolina battled back to within one at 23-22. The Bobcats then used a pair of errors to capture the set.
CCU claimed the third set, 25-23. The Bobcats enjoyed an early five-point lead at 8-3 and later led 12-8, but the Chanticleers ventured on a 7-0 run to climb on top 15-12. The remainder of the set was tight throughout, with the final draw coming at 22-22. As was the case in the opening set, Coastal Carolina won three of the final four points to move to the brink of victory.
The Chanticleers proved to be too much down the stretch for Texas State. The Bobcats were able to stay close at 12-12, but the remainder of the set saw CCU close on a 13-3 run to capture the conference title.
Coastal Carolina led in kills (59-51), attack percentage (.264-.130), assists (56-43), digs (71-65), and blocks (12-10). Texas State led in aces (6-4).
Sun Belt Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Hali Wisnoskie, Louisiana
Carlisa May, Arkansas State
Micah Dinwiddie, Texas State
Amy Pflughaupt, Texas State
Sydney Alvis, Coastal Carolina
Kyla Manning, Coastal Carolina
Most Outstanding Performer
Leah Hardeman, Coastal Carolina