Volleyball Drops Non-Conference Match to Francis Marion on Tuesday

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Coker University volleyball team fell in straight sets (3-0) at Francis Marion on Tuesday night (Oct. 29). 

Francis Marion took the opening set 26-24 for a 1-0 lead. The two teams played to an early 5-5 tie, before later playing to a 14-14 tie in the set. After playing to a 16-16 tie, Coker would win the next three points for a 19-16 lead. The two teams would lock up again at 23, before Francis Marion would take the opening set from there. 

Francis Marion would claim victory in the second set by a score of 25-20 for a 2-0 lead. Coker took an early 5-3 lead, before FMU would storm back to take an 11-7 lead in the set. FMU would extend its lead to 15-7 to force a Coker timeout, before Coker would win the next three points to get back within five. Coker would chip away at FMU's lead by winning another three points in a row to get back to 18-15, before FMU once again would get its lead to five at 21-16. The Patriots would take four of the final eight points to win the set. 

FMU would take the third set by an identical score of 25-20 to sweep the match. Coker held early leads in the set of 5-2, 6-3 and 9-4, before the Patriots would come back to take a 10-9 lead. After the teams tied up again at 12-12, FMU went on a 9-4 run to go ahead 21-16. FMU would close out the set from there for the victory.

Taylor du Bray led the Cobras with nine kills on the night, while Chelsey Blume and Emily Everton each had six kills. Sierra Harvey and Payton Jackson each had three kills on the night, while Olivia Cerick had two kills. Rami Mullen and Ashley Carson also chipped in kills in the match. Carson led the Cobras with 17 assists, while Mullen added seven assists. Camryn Tate contributed two assists, while Cerick and Everton each had one assist in the match. Carson and Tate each registered two service aces in the match, while Mullen, Blume and Cerick each had one. Camryn Tate led the Cobras with 16 digs, while Cerick finished with eight on the night. Carson posted seven digs, while Mullen and Everton each had three digs. Du Bray added two digs, while Blume also had one. Du Bray recorded the lone solo block on the night for the Cobras, while also leading the team with three block assists. Blume and Harvey each had two block assists in the match, while Cerick also had one block assist on the night. 

The Cobras are back in action on Friday (Nov. 1) at Newberry for a South Atlantic Conference contest. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.