Brunswick, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia volleyball team stayed on the winning path Tuesday night with a victory over Brewton-Parker College. The Mariners controlled the play from the start and won in three straight sets by scores of 25-9, 25-16 and 25-15 over the fellow Georgia school.
The win was the sixth in a row for the Mariners, who ran their record to 9-2 for the season. It also came on a day when Coastal Georgia learned it had been accepted for membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The Mariners will start competing within the Southern States Athletic Association next school year. Brewton-Parker, which is a member of the SSAC, will be a future conference rival for all Coastal Georgia teams. The Mariners approached the match against the Barons as chance to gauge themselves against a future league team.
"They're picked to make the tournament in the SSAC this year, so it was exciting to beat a team that is supposed to be going to the tournament," said Coastal Georgia coach Jeff Huebner. "Matches like this one give us an opportunity to make a statement in our first year out."
Coastal Georgia dominated the opening set as the Barons started slowly. The second set was close at the start, but with the score tied 8-8 the Mariners made a run and pulled away for a 2-0 lead. The Mariners kept control throughout the third set to earn the victory.
"We knew they would come out and play better in the second set," Huebner said. "We kept the pressure on and all of a sudden the flood gates opened and the rest of the match went that way."
Holly Hammer continued her strong season-long play in the victory as she recorded 11 digs, 10 kills and four aces while finishing with a .400 hitting percentage. Maggie Bee posted 20 assists and four aces. Kansas Robinson notched 15 digs and five aces. Also, Amanda Kline recorded eight kills on 10 attempts to finish with a .800 hitting percentage. Valerie Cutrone added five kills on 12 swings for a .330 percentage.
The Mariners travel on Friday to face Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Fla. On Saturday, they play St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla.
