Coker Splits Weekend in Pembroke

PEMBROKE, NC: Coker volleyball posted a 2-2 weekend at the UNC Pembroke Invitational and rebounded after two losses on Friday to sweep Saturday and claim victories over Albany State and Virginia State at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

• vs. UNC Pembroke 

  • 1-3

• vs. Eckerd

  • 0-3

• vs. Albany State

  • 3-0

• vs. Virginia State

  • 3-1

TOP PERFORMERS:

vs. UNC Pembroke

• Cayla Gilmore 10 Kills

• Maddy Roberts 31 assists, 2 kills, 17 digs 

• Addie Bittner 19 digs, 5 kills

vs. Eckerd

• Maddy Roberts 17 assists

• Meadow Morse 11 digs

vs. Albany State

• Maddy Roberts 27 assists, 8 digs

• Addie Bittner 9 kills, 6 digs

• Pelin Aksoy 7 kills, .600 kill%, 3 digs

vs Virginia State

• Cayla Gilmore 19 kills, 3 block assists

• Maddy Roberts 44 assists, 2 services aces

• Addie Bittner 12 kills, 16 digs

• Leah Pimentel 4 block assists, 5 kills,  .625 kill % 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

UNC Pembroke 

Coker jumped out early with a 25-16 win in the opening set, but stumbled in the next three, falling 25-20, 25-17, and 25-17.

The Cobras held a 6-4 lead in the second set and were tied at 11 before UNC Pembroke used a 9-4 run to go ahead 20-15. Coker rallied with five of the next six points to close within one at 21-20, but the Braves finished strong with four straight to even the match.

In the third set, Coker erased a 4-0 deficit to tie things at 13, but never took the lead and dropped the frame 25-17. The fourth set saw the Cobras up 6-5 early, but a six-point run by Pembroke gave the hosts control as they closed out the match 25-17.

Eckerd

Eckerd claimed the match in straight sets, winning 25-15, 25-16, and 25-21.

Coker led 3-1 in the opening frame and battled to a 10-10 tie before the Tritons strung together seven straight points and nine of the next 10 to pull away.

The Cobras trailed 5-0 to start the second, but fought back to take a 13-12 lead. Eckerd quickly answered with eight straight points to seize control on the way to a 25-16 win.

Coker again started fast in the third, jumping ahead 5-1. Eckerd responded with a 9-2 stretch to move in front 10-7. The Cobras tied the score at 13, but could not regain the lead as Eckerd held on for a 25-21 victory to complete the sweep.

Albany State

Coker swept Albany State, 25-20, 25-13, and 25-20, to secure its first win of the weekend.

The Cobras opened the first set on a 7-1 run before Albany State rallied to move ahead 12-10. Coker answered with 12 of the next 15 points to build a 22-15 lead and held on for the 25-20 win.

In the second set, Coker never trailed, jumping out to a 4-0 start and later using a 9-1 run to push the margin to 20-9 before closing out a 25-13 victory.

The third set saw Albany State grab a 6-4 lead, but Coker responded with five straight points and never looked back. The Cobras controlled the rest of the frame and secured the match with a 25-20 decision.

Virginia State

Coker outlasted Virginia State in five sets, dropping the opener 25-20 before rallying for a 25-22 win in the second and a 26-24 comeback in the third. The Trojans forced a deciding set with a 25-22 victory in the fourth, but Coker dominated the fifth 15-6 to claim the match.

In the opening frame, Coker led 16-15 before Virginia State scored six straight to pull ahead 21-16 and close out the set. The Cobras bounced back in the second, erasing an early 4-1 hole with a 6-2 spurt to take the lead at 7-5. After VSU tied it at 7-7, Coker answered with four straight points and never trailed again in the 25-22 win.

The third set was a battle, as Coker trailed 17-10 before storming back to tie it at 22-22. The Cobras fended off three set points and earned their first lead at 25-24 before sealing the comeback 26-24.

Coker led 10-5 in the fourth before Virginia State rallied to move ahead 20-17. The Cobras climbed within one at 22-21, but VSU finished the frame to force a deciding set. In the fifth, it was all Coker, as the Cobras raced out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back in a 15-6 victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Coker hosts Newberry in the home opener on Tuesday, Sept,. 16 at 7 PM inside the Harris E. & Louise H. DeLoach Center. The match will be broadcast on the FloSports network.