Cobras Win Dramatic Five-Set Match Over Tusculum

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Coker College women's volleyball team picked up a dramatic five-set victory over Tusculum (26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-7) in a South Atlantic Conference battle on Saturday (Oct. 6).

Kara Overholt came one dig shy of her own single-match record with 37 digs, and Taylor du Bray recorded 27 kills and eight digs in the victory. Freshman Rami Mullen notched her 13th double-double of the season with 47 assists and 11 digs.

The first set featured seven lead changes, with Coker ultimately prevailing 26-24. Tusculum jumped out an early 4-1 lead before consecutive kills from Lana Strejcek helped the Cobras tie the set 6-6. The teams battled back and forth until a kill by senior Chloe Attram gave Coker a 20-19 advantage. The Pioneers came back yet again, this time to tie the set at 24-24, before du Bray recorded her six kill of the set to help the Cobras close out the set.

Tusculum won the second set 25-17, but Coker stormed back to win the third set 25-22. The Cobras fell behind early in the third set as well, trailing 6-2 at the start. Coker ultimately tied the set 14-14 before du Bray recorded three consecutive kills to create a little breathing room at 17-14. They'd push the lead as high as 21-15 after a kill by Olivia Veith, and then close out the set 25-22. Mullen recorded 11 of her assists in the third set.

The Pioneers jumped out to a commanding 13-3 advantage in the fourth set, and ultimately won the set and tied the match at two sets apiece, forcing a fifth and decisive set. However Coker dominated the fifth set, racing out to a quick 5-0 lead and then stretching the advantage to 10-3. Olivia Cerick finished off the victory with a kill, assisted by Mullen. Cerick finished the evening with 11 kills, seven digs, and a .265 hitting percentage.

The Cobras will be back in action on Tuesday (Oct. 9) when they host Catawba in a South Atlantic Conference matchup in the DeLoach Center. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.