WISE – UVA Wise took a 2-0 lead only to see Coker slither back to take the third and fourth sets, forcing a decisive fifth set where the Highland Cavaliers outlasted the Cobras Friday night on the Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center, winning 25-17, 27-25, 14-25, 22-25, and 16-14.
It was the third five-set match of the season for the Cavs, who have won all three.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: UVA Wise 3, Coker 2
Records: UVA Wise (11-10, 5-7 SAC); Coker (8-12, 4-7 SAC)
Location: The Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UVA Wise initiated the first set with a strong start, quickly establishing a 3-0 lead with contributions from
Mable James and
August Betz.
Mailea Hufnagel and
Braelynn Williams added to the scoring, pushing the Cavs to a 5-1 advantage. Despite a brief Coker rally that narrowed the gap to 7-6, the Cavaliers regained control with solid attacks from Betz and James, extending the lead to 10-6. As the set progressed, UVA Wise maintained their edge, as
Madilyn Pardue orchestrated an effective offense with multiple assists, including to
Morgan Blankenship and James, stretching the lead to 16-14. A series of attack errors from the Cobras allowed UVA Wise to further increase the margin to 20-14. Kills from Hufnagel and
Mia Bradley closed the set out with a 25-17 victory.
- The second set featured a closely contested battle between UVA Wise and Coker. The teams swapped points several times throughout the frame. Despite a mid-set surge by Coker, including multiple kills by Addie Bittner and Alyssa Carey, UVA Wise fought back to level the score with a series of blocks and kills. The Cavs held a late 24-20 lead but Coker made a late run to tie the set at 25-25. In a tense conclusion,
Riley Brandon delivered a crucial service ace, and Hufnagel sealed the set with a kill and a service ace, clinching the set 27-25 for the Cavs.
- Coker took an early 6-3 lead to open the third set. The Cavs cut the lead to 11-10 only to see the Cobras strike for a 11-0 run that put the set away, 25-14.
- The teams exchanged points in the fourth stanza, with the Cavs maintaining a slim lead until Coker surged ahead, creating a 5-3 advantage. Blankenship and Brandon contributed significant kills, keeping the score close at 8-8. As the set progressed, the Cobras capitalized on errors to extend their lead to 15-11. However, UVA Wise responded with a series of points, cutting the deficit to 18-18 with contributions from
Mia Poag and
Annabelle Dowell. A strong push by the Cavs gave them a 22-19 lead, but Coker mounted a comeback with a decisive run, winning the set 25-22.
- It went to a fifth and final set, which saw UVA Wise pull ahead 5-4, highlighted by a kill from Hufnagel and a scoring drive led by Brandon's consecutive kills. Building on this momentum, UVA Wise extended their lead to 9-4, thanks to a balanced attack featuring contributions from Dowell and Hufnagel. Coker responded with a run of their own, leveling the score at 10-10. UVA Wise regained control with pivotal kills from Brandon and Blankenship. Despite Coker's efforts to tie the game at 14-14, the Cavs secured the set via a Cobra attack error and a final kill by Brandon from Pardue, closing the set at 16-14 and giving UVA Wise the match victory.
GETTING WISE
-
Abigail Curtis excelled defensively, recording a career-high 37 digs over five sets.
- Pardue contributed significantly as a setter, amassing a career-high 35 assists.
- James was effective at the net, totaling a career-high eleven kills and six blocks.
- Hufnagel led the team with a career-high 15 kills and one service ace.
- Brandon had another double-double with 22 assists and ten digs while hitting.538.
- Blankenship had 13 kills while hitting .324.
- Bradley picked up a career-high 14 digs while Poag had eleven,
UP NEXT
UVA Wise will host Mars Hill in a key SAC match tomorrow afternoon on the Quillen Court in the David J. Prior Convocation Center. The Lions defeated UVA Wise 3-0 in Mars Hill on September 23 and the Cavs are seeking to return the favor and help their cause in the South Atlantic Conference standings going into the final weeks of the season. First serve is set for 3 p.m.
