WISE – UVa-Wise dropped a four-setter to Coker University Saturday afternoon inside the Prior Center. After the Cavs forced a fourth set with a set three win, the Cobras used a dominating effort to prevail in a 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 21-25, 25-14) victory over the Cavs.
The Cavs (1-14, 0-11 SAC) jumped out to an early lead before the Cobras (5-10, 2-9 SAC) came from behind to tie the opening set at 11-11 as UVa-Wise called a timeout. UVa-Wise won six straight points to regain the advantage, but a late rally by the Cobras gave Coker a 25-22 set one win.
After battling for the lead to start the second set, a kill by redshirt senior Ciara Kain gave the Cavs an 11-8 advantage over Coker. UVa-Wise would fall behind again late in the second set as Coker took a three-point lead into a UVa-Wise timeout. The Cobras won the final four points to take the set, 25-19, and go up 2-0 in the match.
Another hot start for the Cavs put UVa-Wise on top of the Cobras 15-9. Coker managed to cut the deficit, pulling within three points as the Cavs continued to lead, 18-15. A 4-0 run for UVa-Wise put the Cavs ahead by four with a kill by junior Brooke Abbott sealing the third set win for the Cavs, 25-21, with UVa-Wise trailing 2-1 into the fourth set.
The two teams opened the fourth set with several lead changes before the Cobras went up 12-8 as UVa-Wise called a timeout. Coker went on to take their first double-digit lead of the day with a 21-11 advantage before taking set four, 25-14.
Kain finished with a double-double of 14 kills and 13 digs alongside a .282 attack percentage. Sophomore Kelsey Green also posted a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs in the match. Senior Morgan Milligan dished out a match-high 38 assists. Senior Briana Kerr posted 13 digs while sophomore Matelyn Gibson contributed 12 digs on the afternoon.
Head coach Kristen Salyer's team will be on the road next weekend with matches at Catawba College and Queens University (N.C.) Friday night and Saturday afternoon. First serve for Friday's match is scheduled for 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. match time slated for Saturday.
