HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (22-5, 15-3 South Atlantic Conference) snapped a two-match losing streak with a four-set victory over the Coker Cobras (4-19, 1-17 SAC) 26-28, 25-11, 25-18 and 25-19 Saturday afternoon at the DeLoach Center.
"I love the fact that this team will do whatever it takes to win," Carson-Newman assistant coach Kirby Toribio said. "Coker played fantastic defense today so we really had to rise to the occasion in many ways. It was great to see that no matter who we put on the court these girls will take pride and play for each other."
The Cobras won four of the first five points to begin the match and led by three points when a 5-2 spurt for the Eagles tied the score at 14. A 5-0 streak gave Carson-Newman a set point 24-18 but once again could not close out a set dropping the next seven points. The Eagles would get another set point at 26-25 but Coker won the final three points to take the set.
Carson-Newman trailed 5-4 in second stanza but used a 14-3 run capped by a kill from junior middle blocker Maddie Borch (Walnut Creek, Calif.) to seize control. A service ace by senior libero Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) sealed the most lopsided set of the match.
The Eagles hit .469 in the third game while the Cobras tallied just six kills. A 9-4 effort by Carson-Newman put the visiting team ahead 10-7. Coker closed the gap to two points at 12-10 before a 10-3 jaunt gave the Eagles control and clinched on a kill by Borch.
The visiting team got off to its best start in any set winning eight of the first 12 points of the fourth set. Coker chipped away and closed within a point before a 6-0 segment put the Eagles ahead 23-16. A kill by freshman middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) finished the match.
Carson-Newman finished with 61 kills on a .213 hitting percentage, 74 digs, 11 service aces and four blocks while Coker had 33 kills hitting .085, 67 digs, six service aces and 9.5 blocks.
Borch led all players with 15 kills on a .263 attack percentage with 1.5 total blocks while Harris had 10 kills while hitting .273 with a solo block.
Senior outside hitters Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) and Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) finished with 13 kills and 11 kills respectively. Locke also chipped in 16 digs for her 11th double-double of the year.
Sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) racked up a career-high 54 assists, the most assists for a Carson-Newman setter since Kristen Pickett had 57 in a four-set victory over Anderson (S.C.) on November 7, 2014.
Madison Bingle was the lone Cobra with double figures in kills finishing with 10 kills and nine digs. Christen Bragg had a double-double with 24 assists and 14 digs.
Carson-Newman returns to Holt Fieldhouse Tuesday night for a conference tilt with Tusculum. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Mossy Creek.
- CN -
_of_Lindsey_Wells_story.jpg?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
