Harrogate, Tenn. – Charleston drops first game on the season in a close five setter with the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters.   
 
The Basics:
Location: Kline Gym
Score: UC 2, LMU 3
Records: UC 4-1 (0-0 EIVA), Lincoln Memorial 4-2 (1-0 DI Independent)
 
How it Happened:
In the Saturday afternoon road match, Charleston quickly found themselves trailing the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial by a score of 6-2. Both teams traded points until LMU went on another run to extend their lead by six, 12-6 the score. Charleston fought hard to battle back into the set, bringing the score eventually to 22-20 LMU still leading. But, despite their efforts, Charleston went on to lose the first set of the match, 25-22 in favor of the Railsplitters.
 
The second set was back and forth, both teams battling hard with Charleston having the lead 12-11 midway through the set. The Golden Eagles saw their first big lead of the day when they went on a five-point run to extend their set lead to 17-12 powered by two consecutive kills from Jesse Delancy. The Golden Eagles would hold onto their lead and close out the set 25-19, the match tied at 1-1.
 
The Golden Eagles struggled in the third set, trailing 10-4 early on. Charleston chipped away at the deficit, but the Splitters once again went on a scoring run increasing their lead to 21-13. LMU went on to close out the set 25-16, taking the match lead 2-1.
 
The teams were battling back and forth in the fourth set, but the turning point came when Charleston went on a late eight point run to jump ahead 23-17. Charleston went on to take set four by a score of 25-21, forcing a set five winner takes all.
 
Set five was side out for side out, the set tied at 7-7, and continued the trend until 12-12. Charleston dropped the next point with an untimely service error, allowing LMU to take the lead 13-12. The Splitters now in the driver's seat went on to score the last two points of the set. Charleston would collect their first loss of the season with the fifth set not ending in their favor.
 
Jesse Delancy collected a season high kills with 19 in the match.