VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FIVE-SET THRILLER TO CATAWBA

Hartsville, SC - A classic occurred tonight in the DeLoach Center, with the Cobras finding themselves on the wrong end of a five-set thriller, falling 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 12-15).

The first set saw Catawba jump out to an early lead and refuse to relinquish it, downing Coker 25-20 to take a 1-0 set lead.

The second set started in the same fashion for the Cobras, trailing (score) at one point. However, they surged back and held a three-point lead at 19-16. Catawba pulled it within one at 22-21, prompting Coach Dragan to take a timeout to settle her team's nerves. The Cobras won the first two points coming out of the time out, and three of the next four, to take the second set 25-22 and bring this one even.

The third set was a tale of back-and-forth, with neither team gaining any true separation. The largest gap early on was the Cobras heading up 14-11 which prompted the Catawba Indians to take their first timeout of the set. A few points later, a huge dig by freshman Peyton Tribolet set up the huge kill by junior Hazar Kayan to stretch this one to a six-point lead at 18-12.

The Catawba Indians did not go quietly into the night, bringing it within two at 19-17. The Cobras responded in a big way, winning the next two points and prompting the second Catawba timeout at 21-17. Up 24-19, the Cobras survived a late surge by Catawba and put this one away at 25-22 to take a 2-1 set lead.

Catawba surged to an early 4-1 lead in the fourth set, but Coker recovered well and earned the next three points to even it up. After much back-and-forth, a huge block by senior Naomi Earl-Reyes sparked a four-point Cobra run to take a 13-9 lead, leading to Catawba's first timeout of the set.

After being unable to get much separation, they took their second timeout with Coker up 17-13, looking to get a spark to take them to a fifth set. The timeout proved effective, with Catawba winning the next three points and forcing a Cobra timeout with Coker up 17-16. A huge back-and-forth ensued yet again, taking this past its normal point threshold. After Coker held the early lead, it was the Catawba Indians pulling out the fourth with a 26-24 scoreline to send it to a deciding fifth set.

The Cobras were cold at the beginning of this one, falling down three points to begin this one. They were able to draw it even at 6-6, then dropped the next two points to go down 8-6 before the changeover. Down 9-7, Coach Dragan took a timeout hoping to collect her team at this decisive point in the match.

At 10-7 in favor of the Catawba Indians, senior Taylor Hills had two huge back-to-back kills to bring this within one and prompt a Catawba timeout. Another Cobra timeout was taken down 13-11, looking for a last-minute spark for the team. Unfortunately, they were unable to pull this one out and fell three sets to two.

Hills was a shining star from tonight's contest, recording 21 kills and 14 digs to round out a double-double. Kayan was the other Cobra with a double-double, recording 10 kills and 10 digs. Defensively, Tribolet had herself a game with a whopping 30 digs.

Coker Volleyball will spring back into action, heading to Wingate on Tuesday for more South Atlantic Conference action. First serve for that contest will be at 7:00 PM ET.