BRUNSWICK, Ga.—The Fire defeated Coastal Georgia in three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-15, and 25-20 to move to 17-6 (7-3 TSC) on the year.
Errors allowed both teams to go on runs on the first set, keeping the game close. The Fire took an early 6-1 advantage on four Mariner errors, but their lead quickly diminished and the Mariners used eight consecutive points to go up 9-6.
Trailing 23-21, Southeastern rattled off four straight to win the first game and take a 1-0 advantage into the second set.
Southeastern stifled Coastal Georgia in the second frame with efficient offense behind five of
Kaity Reed's team-high nine kills.
The Fire only killed 15 attack attempts throughout the first two sets, but found themselves in a position to sweep the Mariners after two games thanks to only seven attacking errors. Reed finished the night with a .429 hitting percentage and did not make a single mistake on offense.
With the game tied at nine in the third set, Southeastern went on a 5-0 run and didn't surrender the lead for the rest of the match. Coastal Georgia kept the match close, holding Southeastern's largest advantage to five points, but Reed ended all hope for a Mariner comeback with one of SEU's ten service aces on the day, as the Fire swept their fourth straight opponent. The Fire registered a match-high 14 kills in the third set, and out-hit Coastal Georgia .270 to .140 to seal the victory.
Kyra White and Alexis Downey led the Mariners on offense with ten and eight kills, respectively. Ashley Kot added 29 assists, the most of any player in the game.
Keniah Rivera Santiago contributed defensively with 14 digs on the day, for her 20th double-digit dig total of the season.
The Fire will be back on the court on Saturday when they face Keiser University. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
