Coker Claims Five-Set Thriller over Catawba

HARTSVILLE, SC -  After dropping the first two sets, the Coker volleyball rallied and won the final three sets to claim the thrilling victory over visiting Catawba on Tuesday night inside the DeLoach Center. The Cobras earned their second straight South Atlantic Conference victory, 23-25, 27-29, 25-16, 25-22 and 15-13.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Coker 8-6 (4-2 SAC) | Catawba (3-6, 0-4 SAC)

• Coker secured its fourth SAC win of the season equaling the total number of SAC wins last season. 

• Coker is now 4-0 in five-set matches this season

• The Cobras closed out the month of September with six wins in the final eight matches. 

TOP PERFORMERS:

Addie Bittner: 18 kills, 5 service aces, 22 digs, 2 block assists

Cheyenne Bird: 33 assists, 13 digs

Kamille Charles: 7 block assists, 6 kills, 3 digs

Meadow Morse: 29 digs, 5 assists

McKay Kasper: 6 kills, 2 block solos, 3 block assists

Cayla Gilmore: 12 kills, 4 block assists

Hazar Kayan: 9 kills, .333 hitting %, 4 block assists 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Set 1: Catawba controlled the early points before Coker grabbed its first lead at 11-10. The Cobras stayed in front at 14-12, but the Indians responded with a 5-2 run to regain the edge. Coker later held a 23-21 advantage, but Catawba closed strong with four straight points to claim the opener.

Set 2: The Indians again jumped ahead, building a 15-9 cushion, but Coker answered with a dominant 8-0 run to surge in front, 17-15. The Cobras led 22-19, but momentum swung back and forth until Catawba closed with four of the last five points for a 29-27 win and a two-set lead.

Set 3: Facing elimination, Coker controlled the third set from start to finish. The Cobras raced out to a 6-1 start, stretched the margin to 13-4, and never looked back in a decisive 25-16 victory.

Set 4: Catawba went ahead 5-3 before Coker answered with three straight points and later a 4-0 spurt to grab a 10-8 lead. The Indians rallied back in front 15-13, but the Cobras countered with another 3-0 run to retake control. Up 22-18, Coker had to withstand a late push from Catawba, but a block by McKay Kasper and Cayla Gilmore sealed the 25-21 win and forced a deciding set.

Set 5: Catawba struck first with a 2-0 lead, but Coker responded with three straight points. The Indians then used a 7-1 run to take control, yet the Cobras battled back to tie it at 10-10. Down the stretch, Kamille Charles and Hazar Kayan delivered key kills and a block assist as Coker finished the comeback with four of the final five points to secure the match.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Coker wraps up the homestand on Friday they host Tusculum in a South Atlantic Conference match at 7 PM in the DeLoach Center. The match can be viewed on FloSports.