STATESBORO, Ga. – Leah Hardeman tallied 15 kills, 10 digs, three blocks and two aces to lead Coastal Carolina to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-16) Sun Belt volleyball victory over Georgia Southern Wednesday night in Hanner Fieldhouse.

Cathrine Murray led Georgia Southern (12-15, 4-7) with eight kills, and Anna Wenger posted six kills and four blocks. Katie Bange notched six kills, 15 assists and eight digs.

Tahleia Bishop and Annayka Legros each collected eight kills for Coastal Carolina (20-4, 11-1), and Carla Cahill finished with a match-high 16 digs.

The story
The Eagles led in each of the first two sets and were ahead 18-16 in the first after a kill by Murray. Coastal Carolina countered with an 8-1 run as Natasha Savovic served up two aces and Hardeman and Legros combined for a block. Wenger got a kill for the Eagles to extend the set, but Hardeman ended it with a kill.

The score was tied 14-14 in the second before the Chanticleers went on a 9-3 run to take control of the frame. Hardeman had three kills and assisted on a block during the run.  

Quotable from head coach Dustin Wood
"We did a pretty good job starting off sets but then they made some adjustments, and we didn't pass well enough for our setters to be able to go pin to pin. When they are running a 6-2, we have to pass a lot better."

"Seeing it live helps, and they actually switched offenses tonight, which we thought could happen so it's good for them to see that. I like playing back to back nights so we can make adjustments."

Next up
The Eagles travel to Coastal Carolina Friday for a 6:30 p.m. contest. Georgia Southern plays at Appalachian State Saturday and Sunday.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com/tickets.