NEWBERRY, S.C. – Newberry College senior middle hitter
Zoe Dinkins had 10 kills and four blocks, but the Wolves lost to the Coker University Cobras 3-2 on Thursday night.
Coming off a 3-2 win over Anderson on Friday, Feb. 26, Newberry had an opportunity to remain undefeated with a home matchup against the Cobras, who had not played a game yet this season.
Besides two tied scores early in the first set, Newberry had control early. Up 18-11, freshman defensive specialist
Lauren Black got an ace to give the Wolves their biggest lead of the first set 19-11. The Wolves scored on five of the last seven points in set one, including aces from junior libero
Amanda Berecz and sophomore setter
Avery Webb. Newberry took the opening set 25-16, tied for the largest margin of victory in a set all night for either team.
The Wolves rattled off an eight-point rally in the middle of the second set to go up 15-9. Webb served for the Wolves during the streak and recorded three service aces. The Cobras made things close with a 6-2 scoring run to pull within 21-18, but freshman outside hitter
Taylor Hall wrapped up game two with a kill on an assist from Webb and the Wolves won 25-22 in the second set.
The Cobras won the third set, 25-19 while Newberry was unable to score more than two-consecutive points throughout the entire set. Hall and senior outside hitter
Natasha Bannister had two kills each in the fourth set, but Coker took game four, 25-16.
Besides an early 1-1 tie in the final set, Newberry was trailing throughout the race-to-15. A five-point scoring rally from the Cobras put them ahead 13-6. Dinkins and freshman middle hitter
Margaret McMahon tallied kills late, but the Cobras got their final two points and won the fifth set 15-8 and won the match 3-2.
FAST FACTS
- Three Wolves recorded double-digit kills. Bannister led the way with 13 and Dinkins and Hall had 10 each.
- Newberry's eight-point scoring rally in the second set is their longest of the season so far.
- Berecz had 12 digs. The transfer from Lake-Sumter now has 548 career digs.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Newberry (1-1) takes on Wingate University (1-0) on Saturday, Mar. 6 at 2 p.m.
