CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan took down the Coker Cobras in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon in a 3-0 final score.

The Warriors totaled 39 kills in the victory over the Cobras with Karson Haley leading the team with 13. Haley was closely followed by Angel Jimenez with 12 kills. Katie Fulton picked up 21 assists. Southern Wesleyan’s two aces came off the hands of Faith Paxton and Ellie Moore.

Of the 64 digs in the match, libero Faith Paxton had 15 with Angel Jimenez following with 14. Katie Fulton recorded 13 digs and Ellie Moore had 10. Gracie Wilson led the team with four blocks.

How It Happened

Set One

Southern Wesleyan took the first point of set one as Karson Haley drilled the ball down for a kill. Coker countered on the next point with a kill by Cayla Gilmore. However, the Warriors pushed on with kills by Haley and Angel Jimenez and a block by Gracie Wilson. Kills by Gilmore and Naomi Earl-Reyes put the Cobras back within two, but the Warriors pushed on as Angel Jimenez and Sarah Mitchell laid down back-to-back kills to extend the Warriors lead to 9-5. Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Jimenez put down several more kills. The Cobras went on a short run led by a kill by Naomi Earl-Reyes and an ace by Maddy Roberts, but kills by Karson Haley and Ellie Moore stopped their attack. With the help of a kill by Gracie Wilson, the Warriors claimed the first set 25-20.

Set Two

Coker attacked early in the second set as a block by Kailyn Ivey thwarted the Warriors’ attack. However, the Warriors quickly countered with kills by Ellie Moore and Karson Haley. Kills by Angel Jimenez and Katie Fulton allowed the Warriors to tie the set up. The Cobras struck once more this time off the hands of Cayla Gilmore and Alyssa Carey to give them back the lead. The Warriors and Cobras battled back and forth over the next few points as they exchanged the lead on several occasions. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as back-to-back kills by Karson Haley and Megan Gilliland allowed the Warriors to claim the second set in a 25-23 final score.

Set Three

The Warriors charged out of the gate in the final set as blocks by Gracie Wilson and Ellie Moore, and attack errors by the Cobras allowed them to take an early 5-0 lead. Coker countered with blocks by Cayla Gilmore and Kailyn Ivey to cut into the Warriors lead. Southern Wesleyan was not discouraged as kills by Karson Haley, Angel Jimenez and Sarah Mitchell allowed them to take an 11-5 point lead. The Cobras fought back as they blocked a couple attacks and then Alyssa Carey served in an ace to put them right back within two points of the Warriors. Haley laid down a couple more kills, and then both Haley and Gracie Wilson went up for a block to regain the Warriors five point advantage. A kill by Angel Jimenez allowed the Warriors to take the final set of the match in a 25-20 final score.

What’s Next

Southern Wesleyan will open up Conference Carolinas action on September 25 as they host the Converse Valkyries at 6 p.m. They will continue conference play on September 27-28 as they host the Chowan Hawks (Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.) and the Barton Bulldogs (28th at 2pm). They will then hit the road on October 1 as they travel to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet.