VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN FIVE-SET HEARTBREAKER TO EMORY & HENRY

Hartsville, SC - A rollercoaster of emotions occurred tonight in Hartsville as a back-and-forth match-up ended in a 2-3 (22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 17-25, 13-15) loss for the Cobras at the hands of Emory & Henry.

A 22-25 first-set loss for the Cobras lit a fire underneath them as they proceeded to dominate the floor in the next two sets (25-18 and 25-19 wins, respectively). They even carried this into the beginning of the fourth set, leading 8-1 early on.

Unfortunately, that's where the Wasps locked in and knocked off the rust. They turned a seven-point deficit into an eight-point fourth-set victory (17-25) in one of the largest swings we've seen all year.

A back and fourth fifth set had fans in the DeLoach Center on the edge of their seats. It went back and forth with neither team gaining more than a one-point lead at the start. Tied 10-10, the Cobras won two key points to head up 12-10 and were looking to seal the deal. Unfortunately, Emory & Henry won five of the last six points to take the victory on the road.

The Cobras had some key contributions with multiple athletes in double figures. Laila Hixon led the charge with a double-double of 21 assists and 13 digs. Three athletes had double-figure kills in the form of Taylor Hills (12), Cayla Gilmore (15), and Alyssa Carey (13). Other than Hixon, Coker had two athletes recording double figures in either assists or digs with Maddy Roberts (28 assists) and Meadow Morse (22 digs). 

This was game three in the Cobras' six-game homestand, with game four coming on Friday against Newberry during alumni weekend. First serve in that one is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET.