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MOBILE, Ala. – Coastal Carolina defeated the University of South Alabama volleyball team in straight sets (25-8, 25-18, 29-27) in Sun Belt Conference action Friday at Jag Gym.

CCU's Leah Hardeman finished with a game-high 12 kills along with two service aces and six digs, and Annayka Legros added 10 kills and two blocks.

Kristina Alabastro led South Alabama (13-11, 4-7 SBC) with nine kills and a .348 hitting percentage, while Mechell Daniel finished with five kills and eight digs. Ashlyn Roberts recorded 12 assists, one service ace and five digs.

CCU (18-4, 9-1 SBC) opened the match with a 25-8 win in set one in which it posted a .500 hitting percentage, led by five kills from Hardeman. 

The Chanticleers took a 2-0 lead in the match after a 25-18 win in set two. Legros recorded five kills and hit .429 in the second set to lead CCU. Alabastro posted four kills and a .571 hitting percentage in the set to lead the Jaguars.

CCU clinched the match with a 29-27 win in set three. USA battled back to tie the score 22-22 following a Chanticleer attack error and kill by Daniel. A pair of kills by Alabastro and a kill by Nikki Gittens highlighted the Jaguar attack down the stretch, but a kill by CCU's Tahleia Bishop and a Jaguar ball-handling error on match point sealed the match for the Chanticleers.

"We had some changes in our lineup tonight, and I think we were getting ourselves settled in the first set," USA head coach Amy Hendrichovsky said. "I'm very happy with how much the team fought. We improved each set, and truly had an opportunity to pull out the third set. I'm happy for the team for their fight. I thought we were able to put some pressure on them (Coastal Carolina), and that's what helped us make the third set closer than the first set. Compared to where we were Tuesday night, I thought we came to play tonight. They prepared themselves and came to play. We can get better, and if we come out and give our best effort then we can walk off the court knowing we gave it our best effort – we can get better from that."

South Alabama will return to action when it hosts Appalachian State at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Jag Gym. USA will honor four seniors as part of Senior Day.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).