HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Carson-Newman staved off four match points, but Coker collected its first ever win over Carson-Newman with a five-set triumph Friday night at the DeLoach Center. The Cobras won 25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 24-26, 15-12.
This was another tough five-set loss," Carson-Newman head coach Dave Franklin said. "We had good energy and effort from our girls. Inconsistent execution is coming back to haunt us in these close matches. We have to quickly move on to the next one, no time to hang our heads."
Carson-Newman (1-8, 1-4) had won all six matches against Coker (7-4, 1-4) since the series began in 2013 with Coker winning just two sets during that span. Coker now has a combined record as a member of the conference as a four-year member of 3-68 having finished in last place each of the first three seasons. Prior to the win over C-N, the most recent victory came on Oct. 2, 2015 versus Queens (N.C.) in four frames. The win snaps a SAC losing streak for the Cobras of 18 matches.
Coker jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first set before withstanding a late Eagle rally. Coker led 24-20 before Natalie Harris, Kendall Cooley and Marnie Streeter rattled off three straight points before a Cooley attack error ended the set in favor of the home squad.
The Eagles did complete a comeback in the second set. After falling behind 15-8, the Eagles closed the set by outscoring Coker 17-7 to take the second 25-22. Harris led the charge in the set, hitting .500 with six kills for the Eagles.
The match swung back Coker's direction in the third. After a 4-4 tie, Coker scored six of the next eight points and stiff-armed the Eagles the rest of the way. Carson-Newman nearly tied set three on a Marnie Streeter kill to make it 17-16 Cobras, but that led to three straight Coker points. The Cobras cruised to a 25-19 set three win.
Carson-Newman extended the match in the fourth set thanks to a ferocious rally. The Eagles built a 7-2 lead before Coker rallied by taking seven of the next nine points to tie the set at nine apiece. Following a Christen Bragg service error that tied the match at 13, Coker went on a 7-3 spurt to grab a 20-16 lead. Coker would get to match point at 24-20 before the Eagles mounted their rally. Carson-Newman staved off four match points before eventually forcing a fifth set 26-24.
It would be all for naught however as Coker triumphed 15-12 in the fifth.
Abbie McFarlane led the charge with a career-best 21 kills. She hit .296 for the match. McFarlane is the first Eagle with a 20-kill performance since Molly Locke had 20 against Lenoir-Rhyne in last season's Southeast Region final.
Marnie Streeter added 12 kills with a .123 attack percentage while Harris had 11 kills with a .333 attack percentage and four blocks.
Taylor Lowe led the Eagles' defense with 23 digs. Eileen Anderson and Morgan Harlan also had double-digit digs with 11 apiece. Harlan also handed out 53 assists, a career high for her.
Christen Bragg led the Coker attack with 14 kills. She hit .270.
Carson-Newman out hit the Cobras .177 to .164. The Eagles made 13 service errors, which matches a season high.
Carson-Newman returns to action Saturday at 5 p.m. against SAC power Wingate.
