Volleyball Falls in Three to Tusculum Friday Night

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University volleyball team fell in three sets to visiting Tusculum on Friday night (Nov. 8). 

Tusculum took the first set 25-20 for a 1-0 lead in the match. The two teams played to an early 4-4 tie, before Tusculum would eventually go on a 13-5 run to go ahead 17-9. Coker would get back within five at 20-15, before Tusculum closed out the set from there. 

Tusculum would take the second set 26-24 for a 2-0 lead. Coker jumped out to leads of 7-3, 9-4 and 10-6, before Tusculum came back and the teams were eventually knotted at 12. Coker would take a 15-13 lead, before Tusculum would storm back to take a 19-15 lead. The Cobras would tie the set at 19. Tusculum would win the set from there. 

The Pioneers took the third set 25-15 to get the victory. Coker jumped out to a 6-4 lead, before Tusculum went on a run to go ahead 14-8. Coker would get back within four at 17-13, before Tusculum would win three consecutive points to go ahead 20-13. Tusculum won five of the final seven points to earn the sweep. 

Emily Everton led the Cobras with eight kills in the match, while Chelsey Blume also posted six kills. Taylor du Bray and Payton Jackson each had five kills, while Sierra Harvey also added two kills. Alexis Kopicki and Rami Mullen also contributed kills on the night. Ashley Carson led the Cobras with 14 assists on the night, while Mullen added 11 assists. Kopicki and du Bray each contributed one assist on the night. Olivia Cerick posted two aces on the night, while Kopicki, Mullen and Maddie Gardner each had one. Camryn Tate's 18 digs led the Cobras on the night, while Cerick also added seven. Mullen and Everton each had four digs on the night, while Carson also had three. Kopicki also posted two digs in the match, while du Bray contributed one. Blume led the Cobras with two block assists on the night, while Everton, Harvey, du Bray and Jackson each had one. 

Coker will play its final home match of the season tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 9) when the Cobras welcome UVA-Wise. First serve is set for 2:00 p.m., preceeded by Senior Day. Coker will honor its three seniors in Sierra Harvey, Taylor du Bray and Maddie Gardner before the match. 

McDonald's Player of the Game - Emily Everton