HARTSVILLE, S.C. --- Freshmen outside hitters Laryssa Welch and Sabrina Schleuger combined for 22 kills to lead Tusculum College to 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 26-24) victory over Coker College on Friday night in South Atlantic Conference Volleyball action from Hartsville, South Carolina.
It was Tusculum's ninth-straight victory and improves its SAC record to 9-1 and its overall mark to 10-8. The Pioneers 9-1 start to conference play ties the best start to a SAC season since joining the league in 1999. The 2010 squad had an identical record through 10 matches en route to a 16-2 league record.
Schleuger finished with a match-high 12 kills to go with six digs, while Welch tallied 10 kills and six blocks. Senior outside hitter Megan Hasse contributed 10 digs and six kills. Sophomore Moriah Jones led the Pioneer defense with 14 digs
With the Cobras (3-14, 0-10 SAC) holding an early 4-3 advantage in the first set, TC used a 6-1 run to jump out to a 9-5 lead. Coker would cut the deficit to 10-9 a few minutes later, but the Pioneers reeled off six-straight points to increase their advantage to 16-9. Tusculum finished the set with a second 6-1 run, and closed out the eight-point first-set victory with back-to-back kills by Schleuger and Welch.
Trailing 8-6, the Pioneers used a quick 4-0 spurt to take their first lead of the second set. Later, the score was tied for the 12th time in the second game at 20-20 before TC benefitted from two Cobra attack errors, a service ace from freshman setter Shannon Murphy, and a kill by Schleuger to earn set-point with the score at 24-20. Coker cut the deficit to three off a TC attack error, but Schleuger sealed the set victory with another kill.
The third set featured five lead changes, and saw the score deadlocked on 15 occasions. Trailing 22-20, Coker used a 3-1 to tie the match at 23-23, trying to force a fourth set.
Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Garnett gave the Pioneers match point from a kill, but an attack error by Hasse knotted the score at 24-24, and extra points were then needed to decide the set. Coker's Bailey O'Brian committed a service error to give TC match point once again, and Welch sealed the Pioneers' sixth 3-0 sweep of the season with one final kill.
Garnett, freshman middle blocker Erin Carmody, and sophomore middle blocker Jaida Allen all contributed four kills each, while Allen added six blocks. Junior setter Hannah Berling dished out a match-high 20 assists, while Murphy added 17.
Brooke Closset led the Cobra offense with 12 kills. Samantha Celek finished with a match-high 15 digs, while Madison Bingle added 12. Christen Bragg tallied 16 assists.
The Pioneers will travel to Wingate, North Carolina for a matchup tomorrow with ninth-ranked Wingate University. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
