Troy University Athletics
Trojans Defeat Coastal Carolina, 3-1
9/13/2008 5:00:00 AM | Volleyball
CONWAY, SC - The Troy Trojans used double-digit kills from Meghan Gilroy and Aubre Smith to remain undefeated in the Courtyard by Marriott Chanticleer Invitational, defeating Coastal Carolina on their home floor 3-1. The Trojans defeated the Chanticleers 28-26, 21-25, 26-24, 25-22 in a hard-fought match on both sides, using 16 kills by Gilroy and 11 by Smith.
The Trojans were down by as many five points in the opening set, 11-6, before battling back to trim the lead to 19-18. After a Chanticleer point to push the lead back to two, Kerry Heinz took a pass from Megan Henderson and finished off the attack, trimming the lead to 20-19. The two teams traded points again, until the Trojans used a kill from Gilroy to tie the set at 21-21. Coastal Carolina pulled away again, this time at 23-21, before the Trojans went on 3-0 run to gain a match point opportunity. After a service error tied the match at 24-all, the two teams traded sideouts and set points, until the Trojans were able to gain control on a block from Smith and freshman Brittany McClelland to get another set point opportunity at 27-26. A bad set by Coastal Carolina's Kelsie Mauck gave the Trojans a 28-26 opening set victory.
Troy (6-4) dropped the second set 25-21, after leading 10-9 early in the set. Coastal Carolina (5-5) was able to pull away for a lead of four points before Troy tied the set at 17-all. The two teams traded points until the Chanticleers were able to gain control at 22-20.
In the third set, Coastal Carolina led by as many as four points late in the set at 21-17. However, the Trojans were able to trim the deficit using a pair of Gilroy services that led to attack errors by the host Chanticleers. After the lead was trimmed to 21-19, Coastal Carolina pushed the lead back to four at 23-19 before Troy was able to storm back to 23-22. Coastal Carolina seized a set point opportunity at 24-22, but were able to convert after a block by Troy's Gilroy and Henderson trimmed the lead to 24-23. Still facing a set point, the Trojans tied the match on a kill by Henderson off an assist by Meghan Washlow. Troy then gained a set point opportunity on a Henderson kill, before Gilroy finished the set off with a service ace and a 26-24 victory.
The fourth and final set was much like the first three sets, with the two teams trading points through the first 38 points of the set. With the set tied at 19-all, Troy went ahead 20-19 on a bad set by Coastal Carolina's Meagan Tracey. The lead was pushed to 21-19 on a kill by Smith, and then 22-19 on an attack error by Coastal Carolina. After a point by the Chanticleers trimmed the lead to 22-20, Troy went ahead 23-21 on a Smith kill before getting a match point opportunity after another Smith kill gave the Trojans a 24-22 lead. The match was ended on a block by Gilroy and McClelland to five the Trojans the four-set victory.
Henderson led the attack with a double-double including 37 assists and 11 digs. Washlow led the Trojans defensively with 14 digs, while Emily Strader added 12 and Heinz 11.
Troy finishes the tournament against Georgia State Saturday afternoon at 4 pm.
