Cobras Show Their Youth In Loss To Francis Marion

Hartsville, SC - The youth of Coker’s volleyball team showed Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to local rival Francis Marion.  The Cobras held late leads in three of the four sets but only closed out in one of the games.  Coker falls to 5-4 on the year while the Patriots improve to 8-6. 

The Cobras missed out on a chance to take the first set after squandering a 6-0 run to start the match.  FMU slowly reeled in Coker and forced their hosts to take a timeout when they grabbed a 26-24 lead.  CC responded to retake a 28-27 but were unable to close out the set, falling 30-28.

In set two, Coker faltered down the stretch again, this time losing 30-26 after leading 25-22.  CC got caught with its hot hitter, junior Andrea Manuel, on the back row and couldn’t get the side-outs to move her back up front.

The Cobras did what they had been unable to do in the first sets by closing out a late lead in set three.  CC trailed 19-17 but came back to grab a 22-21 lead.  After a 25-25 tie, Coker inched ahead 27-25, and this time they didn’t falter, winning 30-26.

In the fourth and final set CC seemed to lose their focus and their passing and receiving slipped.  Instinctively the Patriots took advantage and pulled out to a double-digit lead.  The Cobras rallied to pull within six at 23-17, but didn’t have enough to come all the way back, falling 30-23.

Manuel led Coker with 15 kills, and 15 digs, and Freshman Megan Haupt/Summerville, SC finished with eight kills.  Sophomore Tara Nelson/Rochester Hills, MI totaled 34 assists and 13 digs, while freshman Margaret Madison/Savannah, GA and sophomore Courtney Barton/Irmo, SC each had seven kills.

Lezlie Logan led all hitters with 20 kills and Kelly Feber finished with 17 kills, 11 digs and an ace.  Melissa Hennessy racked up 59 assists, four aces and 11 digs, and Jessica Strader tallied 20 digs and two aces.  Hartsville native Rachel Matthews pleased the locals with 12 digs and three aces.

Coker now travels to CVAC foe Mt. Olive on Saturday, September 25, for a pair of matches starting at 10:00 AM.

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