Trojans Topple Chanticleers in Five-Set Thriller

Saturday, November 2

Troy, Ala.

6:30 PM

Troy University

19-6,9-4Sun Belt

Coastal Carolina

19-5,9-3Sun Belt

Coastal Carolina

Troy

Trojans Topple Chanticleers in Five-Set Thriller

11/2/2019 10:55:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

Troy, Ala. – Troy won a five-set thriller over Coastal Carolina Saturday night in Trojan Arena, 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 17-15). The Trojans picked up their 10^th Sun Belt win of the season which ties for the most conference wins in a single season in school history.

Troy's (20-5, 10-3 Sun Belt) win over the Chanticleers (19-5, 10-3 Sun Belt) marked its 15th-straight home victory dating back to last season, tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. The streak began in the final home match of 2018 when Troy downed the Chanticleers in five sets. The Trojans secured their sixth 20-win season in program history and first since 2012.

Ashley Guenveur set a career high with 21 kills to lead the Trojans offensively while Halston Hillier found her mark 15 times. Cheyenne Hayes and Julia Brooks each made strong contributions with eight kills apiece for the Trojans.

Amara Anderson posted a season-high 55 assists while running the Trojan offense. Lacey Jeffcoat was invaluable in the back row, keeping several key rallies alive and finishing with 17 digs.

Troy tied a season high with 10 blocks against the Chanticleers, but none were bigger than when Brooks teamed up with Avery Cason to stuff an Anett Nemeth attack in the fifth set. Caitlin Cooper used her length to her advantage and led the team with six total blocks, including two solos.

"I was really proud of our composure," head coach Josh Lauer said. "There's a lot of emotion that happens in that fifth set. It was back-and-forth and I thought all of our girls did a great job sticking with the game plan and staying focused."

How It Happened
Things were tight in the early goings as the Trojans and Chanticleers went back-and-forth through 13 ties and five lead changes. Coastal Carolina opened a late four-point advantage at 23-19 that Troy couldn't overcome. The Chants went on to take the first set, 25-21.

The Trojans found an answer for the high-powered Coastal Carolina offense in the second set, jumping out to a quick 7-3 lead to force an early Chanticleer timeout. Troy forced Coastal Carolina's final timeout of the set after an ace from Guenveur put the Trojans up, 11-4. Troy didn't look back en route to a 25-20 set two win.

The Chanticleers controlled the third set from start to finish to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Coastal Carolina hit an impressive .455 while taking set three, 25-16.

But the Trojans wouldn't stay down for long, picking up a gritty fourth set win to force Troy's first five-set match this season. Troy found itself with a one-point lead at 23-22 before back-to-back kills from Hillier and Guenveur clinched the set, 25-22.

The fifth set did not disappoint for the energetic Trojan Arena crowd. Things didn't go Troy's way early in the set as Coastal stepped in front, 4-2. A huge block from Brooks and Cason pulled Troy even at 4-4, before the Chants stepped back in front at 7-5. Three straight points propelled the Trojans into the media timeout with an 8-7 lead.

Troy fended off two Chanticleer match points late in the set, most notably when Hayes slammed home a kill to tie things at 15.

Brooks stepped up to the service line for the first time all season at a 15-15 tie in the final set. The freshman struck two beautiful serves to propel the Trojans to their final two points of the match and a 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 17-15) victory.

Up Next
The Trojans take a step out of conference play for a midweek matchup against in-state foe Alabama State Wednesday in Montgomery. First serve for that match is set for 7 p.m.