Cobras Beat Carson-Newman Behind Du Bray's Double-Double

HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- The Coker College women's volleyball team picked up a big South Atlantic Conference victory, beating Carson-Newman 3-1 (15-25, 25-17, 26-24, 25-23) on Saturday (Oct. 20).

Taylor du Bray led the way with 20 kills and 19 digs, while Rami Mullen notched her sixteenth double-double of the season with 43 assists and 20 digs. 

The Cobras dropped the first set 25-15, before winning the next three in a row. Coker fell behind early in the second set, and then won the next five out of six points to tie the match at 5-5. Olivia Veith recorded back-to-back kills to help the Cobras close the gap. Du Bray helped Coker gain an advantage in the set by recording three kills in four points and pushing the lead as high as 19-10. A kill by Lana Strejcek closed out the set, giving Coker the 25-17 set win.

Coker jumped out to an early lead in the third set, and then held on for a tense 26-24 victory. A pair of kills by du Bray and another from Veith put the Cobras ahead 6-1 right from the start. Carson-Newman responded with a 13-7 run to put the Eagles ahead 24-22, and serving for set point. Kara Overholt notched a big service ace, and then Strejcek and Veith recorded the crucial kills to give Coker the 26-24 victory. 

The fourth and final set included 13 ties, and 16 lead changes. The Eagles took an early 6-2 lead before kills by Veith and Olivia Cerick helped the Cobras tie the set at 8-8. A ferocious block by the setter, Mullen, tied the set, and energized her team and the Coker faithful. The teams exchanged blows for the next 30 points, with Carson-Newman grabbing a late 23-22 lead before the Cobras responded with three straight kills. Strejcek tied the set at 23-23, and then Cerick recorded another kill to give Coker the 24-23 advantage, and a serve for set point. Fittingly, du Bray closed the match out with a kill, assisted by Rami Mullen, and Coker picked up their third South Atlantic Conference victory of the season.

Coker will be back in action on Monday (Oct. 22) when they host the undefeated Wingate Bulldogs in another South Atlantic Conference contest in the DeLoach Center. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.

McDonald's Player of the Game - Rami Mullen