Coker Cobras
The Coker College women's volleyball team will be looking to start a winning streak when they take on Catawba at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Oct. 9), in the DeLoach Center. Tickets for the matches are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.
The Cobras finished with a 14-17 record last season. This year, they're off to a 9-8 start overall, with an 1-7 record in conference. Coker started the season 7-1, their best start in 20 years. Their 14 wins last season were the most for the program since 2007-2008, and they advanced to the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference tournament for the first time in team history. Their coming off a dramatic, five-set, road victory against Tusculum on Saturday (Oct.6).
The Cobras feature an exciting mix of returners, along with five freshmen that have made an immediate impact on the team. Freshman Rami Mullen leads the team in assists (571), and ranks second in digs (210). She's recorded three consecutive double-doubles, and surpassed 50 or more assists twice already.
Senior libero Kara Overholt is closing out her Coker career with an impressive final season for the Cobras. Overholt leads the team in digs (278), and has surpassed Tara Nelson (2003-2007) for third place all-time in career digs at Coker. She's just 272 digs away from second place, and 329 from first place.
Player to Watch
Attram missed the first half of the season recovering from a major injury she suffered in October 2017. She's a vocal leader, and intimidating force as a middle blocker for the Cobras. Attram made a significant impact in Coker's win over Tusculum when she notched five kills and a .250 hitting percentage against the Pioneers.
KEY NUMBERS
272
Kara Overholt enters this match just 272 digs from second place on Coker's all-time digs list.
101
Taylor du Bray enters this match just 101 kills from her own single-season Coker kills record of 340.
3.98
Du Bray leads the conference with 3.98 kills per set, and ranks second in the conference with 239 total kills. She's also ranks second in the SAC with 28 service aces.
571
Freshman Rami Mullen ranks fourth in the conference with 571 assists.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
KILLS
Taylor Du Bray | 239
Lana Strejcek | 150
Olivia Cerick | 119
Cayley Gunter | 76
BLOCKS
Lana Strejcek | 53
Arianne Jewell | 27
Taylor du Bray| 22
Olivia Cerick | 16
DIGS
Kara Overholt | 278
Rami Mullen | 210
Taylor du Bray | 183
Olivia Cerick | 170
HITTING % (Min. 100 TA)
Lana Strejcek | .283%
Taylor du Bray | .183%
Cayley Gunter | .150%
Olivia Cerick | .137%
Coker Cobras
2018 Coker Women’s Volleyball Roster
2 Rami Mullen S Fr. 5-7 Harrisburg, N.C. / Hickory Ridge HS
3 Gabrielle Milo L Fr. 5-2 Summerville, S.C. / Ashley Ridge HS
4 Cayley Gunter OH Sr. 5-8 Johnsonville, S.C. / Johnsonville HS
5 Samantha Ojeda DS/L So. 5-3 Fort Mill, S.C. / Indian Land HS
7 Olivia Cerick OH Fr. 5-10 Huntersville, N.C. / William Amos Hough HS
8 Emily Everton OH Fr. 6-1 Moore, S.C. / Byrnes HS
9 Sierra Harvey MB Jr. 5-11 Kingsland, Ga. / Camden County HS
10 Taylor du Bray S/RS Jr. 5-9 Highlands Rach, Colo. / Mountain Vista HS
11 Caroline Layne MB Fr. 6-0 Spartanburg, S.C / Spartanburg HS
12 Maddie Gardner DS/L Jr. 5-5 Knoxville, Tenn. / University of Tennessee
14 Annie Mansfield OH So. 5-10 Yalaha, Fla. / First Academy - Leesburg
15 Payton Jackson RS/MB So. 5-11 McKinney, Tx. / McKinney North HS
16 Arianne Jewell MB Sr. 5-10 Canton, Ga. / Cherokee HS
17 Chloe Attram MB Sr. 5-10 Laurel, Md. / Francis Marion University
19 Olivia Veith OH Sr. 5-10 Pensacola, Fla. / Pine Forest HS
20 Lana Strejcek MB Fr. 6-3 Cornelius, N.C. / William Amos Hough HS
Head Coach: Julia Rowland
Assistant Coaches: Jay Novoa-Miralles, Jose Soto
2018 Women's Volleyball Schedule
8.24. | Winston-Salem | 1:00 PM | Home | WIN 3-0
8.24 | Lees-McRae | 7:00 PM | Home | WIN 3-0
8.25 | Indianapolis | 1:00 PM | Home | LOSS 3-0
8.25 | UNC Pembroke | 7:00 PM | Home | WIN 3-1
8.31 | Fayetteville State | 11:00 AM | @ UNC Pembroke | WIN 3-0
8.31 | Shaw | 3:00 PM | @ UNC Pembroke | WIN 3-1
9.1 | Lees-McRae | 3:00 PM | @ UNC Pembroke | WIN 3-0
9.1 | UNC Pembroke | 7:00 PM | @ UNC Pembroke | WIN 3-2
9.4 | Queens (N.C.) | 7:00 PM | @ Queens | LOSS 3-2
9.7 | Anderson (S.C.) | 1:00 PM | @ Anderson, S.C. | LOSS 3-0
9.7 | Erskine | 3:00 PM | @ Anderson, S.C. | WIN 3-0
9.14 | Mars Hill | 7:00 PM | Home | POSTPONED
9.15 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 3:00 PM | Home | POSTPONED
9.18 | Wingate | 7:00 PM | Home | POSTPONED
9.22 | Carson-Newman | 2:00 PM | @ Carson-Newman | LOSS 3-2
9.25 | Queens (N.C.) | 7:00 PM | Home | LOSS 3-0
9.28 | Newberry | 7:00 PM | Home | LOSS 3-0
9.29 | Anderson (S.C.) | 2:00 PM | Home | LOSS 3-1
10.05 | Lincoln Memorial | 7:00 PM | @ Lincoln Memorial | LOSS 3-0
10.06 | Tusculum | 2:00 PM | @ Tusculum | WIN 3-2
10.09 | Catawba | 6:30 PM | Home
10.12 | Mars Hill | 7:00 PM | @ Mars Hill
10.16 | Wingate | 7:00 PM | @ Wingate
10.20 | Carson-Newman | 2:00 PM | Home
10.23 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 7:00 PM | @ Lenoir-Rhyne
10.26 | Newberry | 7:00 PM | @ Newberry
10.30 | Catawba | 6:30 PM | @ Catawba
11.2 | Lincoln Memorial | 7:00 PM | Home
11.3 | Tusculum | 2:00 PM | Home
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Wingate | 9-0 Conference | 16-0 Overall
Anderson | 11-1 Conference | 20-2 Overall
Mars Hill | 7-2 Conference | 13-4 Overall
Lenoir-Rhyne | 6-4 Conference | 12-5 Overall
Lincoln Memorial | 5-4 Conference | 9-6 Overall
Carson-Newman | 5-4 Conference | 9-7 Overall
Queens (N.C.) | 5-6 Conference | 9-9 Overall
Catawba | 2-7 Conference | 6-14 Overall
Newberry | 2-9 Conference | 7-11 Overall
Coker | 1-7 Conference | 9-8 Overall
Tusculum | 0-9 Conference | 2-13 Overall
Catawba vs Coker
Tuesday, October 9th | 6:30 PM | DeLoach Center
Catawba finished 6-19 last season, and 4-16 in conference. The Indians lost 16 consecutive matches at one point last year, before winning three of their final four, including a 3-1 victory over Queens, the eventual conference tournament champions. This year, they've posted a 6-14 record overall, and 2-7 record in conference. Catawba lost six consecutive matches before beating Newberry 3-2 on Saturday (Oct. 6).
The Indians return the vast majority of their nucleus from last season. Sophomore Jade Brooks has emerged as their most potent outside hitter, averaging a team-best 2.16 kills per set. Meanwhile, junior Allie Grubb continues to be their biggest threat in the middle. Grubb and Kimberly Hurtado represent an effective duo of blockers that should provide a nice test for Lana Strejcek, Chloe Attram, and Arianne Jewell.
Catawba was picked to finish tenth in the SAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Cobras match up well with the Indians, but road victories over Queens and Newberry suggest Catawba can play at a high level in uncomfortable environments.
Player to Watch
Morgan is a freshman out of Maiden High School. She recorded 14 kills and 12 digs in Catawba's victory over Newberry. She's slowly been getting more involved in the Indians' offense, racking up 30 attempts against Carson-Newman, 25 against Wingate, and then 46 against Newberry. She appears to be their outside hitter of the future, and should continue to get opportunities down the stretch.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
KILLS | Jade Brooks - 147
BLOCKS | Allie Grubb - 41
ASSISTS | Morgan Hester - 604
DIGS | Jade Brooks - 206
Hitting % | Morgan Hester - .354%
Catawba Indians
2018 Indians Volleyball Roster
1 Micah Ensor RS 6-0 So. Marietta,GA/Lassiter
2 Kylie Morgan OH 5-9 Fr. Newton,NC/Maiden
4 Jaida Henderson MB 5-11 Jr. Creedmoor,NC/S.Granville
6 Morgan Harrison S 5-11 Fr. Upper Arlington,OH/Upper Arlington
8 Allison Benton OH 5-10 Sr. High Springs,FL/St. Francis
9 Abby Benton OH/DS 5-10 So. High Springs,FL/St. Francis
10 Allie Grubb MB 5-10 Jr. Trinity,NC/Wheatmore
11 Jade Brooks OH 5-10 So. Hickory,NC/Foard
12 Macy Eidenberger OH 5-10 So. Trinity,NC/Wheatmore
13 Alexa Marcy OH 5-9 Sr. Fort Collins,CO/Fossil Ridge
14 Libby Bickenbach DS 5-5 Sr. Olive Branch,MS/St. Benedict
16 Jessica Walker MB 5-11 Fr. Burlington,NC/W.Alamance
18 Morgan Hester S 5-6 Jr. Salisbury,NC/Carson
21 Payton Medich S 5-8 Fr. Statesville,NC/Statesville
24 Kimberly Hurtado MB 5-11 Sr. Indian Trail,NC/Sun Valley
Brittany Small RS 5-11 Jr. Salisbury,NC/E.Rowan/Liberty
Head Coach: Ginger Hamric
Assistant Coach: David Brooks
WATCH LIVE ON THE COBRA SPORTS NETWORK
Can't make it to the DeLoach Center this weekend? Catch all four games on the Cobra Sports Network via Stretch Internet at the link below.