CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern volleyball played their first five-set match Monday night prevailing with a 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-9) win over UNC Asheville in Big South action from Buccaneer Field House.

Dayana Chara made her presence felt early and often on her way to a season-high 20 kills while hitting .412 from the floor to pace Charleston Southern (6-1, 6-1 Big South) in a home win. UNC Asheville (4-5, 4-5 Big South) had 14 blocks on the night and 10 kills from Molly Hackett, but the trio of Chara, Peyton Thompson (14 kills, seven digs and two aces) and Paige Reagor (14 kills) proved too much on the front line.

Chara's 20-kill performance was a season-high for any Buccaneer and the first since Brooke Monssen had 28 at Radford in the 2019 regular season finale. Gabby Naninseni added a season-best seven kills in the winning effort while Emma Minnick had 55 assists and the trio of Minnick, Elle McFatrich and Layla Sarvis paced the backline with 10-plus digs.

Charleston Southern dominated most of the night despite dropping two 25-23 sets taking the other first and third by at least seven points and holding the Bulldogs to just 9 in the decisive frame.

Ashleigh Holweger's five service aces tied the Charleston Southern single game record for individual aces in a five-set match. Holweger becomes the 10th Buccaneer all-time with five-plus aces in a five set match while setting a new career-high Monday.

Monday's win keeps the Bucs right on High Point's heels for top spot in the Big South standings while erasing a five-game skid to the Bulldogs.
 
News and Notes

• Charleston Southern made it a 3-0 start on their home floor with a five-set win Monday night
• Ashleigh Holweger had a career-high five aces collecting three over a four-point stretch in the third set
• Dayana Chara became the first Buccaneer to reach 20 kills in a single match and hit a season-best .412 in the process
• Emma Minnick had a season-best 55 assists along with 12 digs while Elle McFatrich and Layla Sarvis anchored the backline with 15 and 10 digs each
• Monday marked the fifth time in seven matches the trio of Chara, Reagor and Thompson each finished with double digit kills with CSU sitting 5-0 in such matches
• Charleston Southern has also held their opponent below .225 in every match to start the season turning-in a solid .138 on the defensive end Monday

Up Next
Charleston Southern and UNC Asheville conclude their two-game series Tuesday afternoon from Buccaneer Field House with a matinee match at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.