Cobras Take Down Young Harris in Season Opener

DUE WEST, S.C. - Coker University volleyball rallied for a four-set victory over Young Harris by scores of 22-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-22 to take the match 3-1 on Friday (Aug. 26).

The teams played to 5-5 and 10-10 ties in the opening set, before Young Harris took five of the next seven points for a 15-12 lead. The teams battled back and forth into the later stages of the set, as the Cobras got back within two to force a Young Harris timeout at 23-21. The Mountain Lions would take the first set 25-22 for a 1-0 lead. 

The Cobras came out hot in the second set to take an 11-6 lead to force a Young Harris timeout, before the teams played to a 17-17 deadlock. The teams then locked up again at 21-21, before the Cobras would win five out of the next eight points to take the second set and tie the match. 

Coker came out in the third set to take a 10-7 lead, before going on a 7-2 run to force a Young Harris timeout at 17-9. The Cobras then doubled up the Mountain Lions at 20-10, before a Young Harris rally brought the set closer and the Cobras closed it out 25-19. 

The teams played to a 6-6 tie in the fourth set, before playing to a tie again at 10-10. The teams went back and forth to a 17-17 deadlock, before playing to a tie again at 22-22. The Cobras then won three straight points to finish off the match. 

Chelsey Blume, Taylor Hills and Lauren Loveday each totaled 12 kills in the match, with Hills posting a new career-high. Nehemiah Jinks, Taylor Parker and Naomi Earl-Reyes each registered four kills in the match. Adriana Velez and Kendal Boland each dished out 20 assists in the match, while Makayla Harris had three and Blume also had one. Loveday completed the double-double with a career-high 16 digs, while Harris also posted 12. Boland (seven), Velez (six), Hills (five), Blume (three) and Jinks (two). Blume posted Coker's lone solo block in the match, while also leading the way with six block assists. Earl-Reyes totaled four block assists in the match, while Jinks, Hills, Parker and Loveday each had one. 

The Cobras (1-0) are back in action tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 27) to wrap up tournament play. The Cobras will face Francis Marion at 11:00 a.m., before taking on host Erskine at 7:00 p.m. Video and live stats for both matches will be available at www.cokercobras.com.