COLUMBIA, S.C. – On their first day of sand volleyball competition in school history, the Carson-Newman Eagles (0-2) dropped a pair of 5-0 decision to No. 20 Tulane (7-3) and No. 14 South Carolina (8-2) Friday afternoon at the Carolina Sand Volleyball Complex.
"It was a good first day," Carson-Newman coach Dan Ahiers said. "We played better in our second dual and the girls are gaining confidence. We're going to keep getting more confident as soon as they trust themselves and their partners more. We're going to really focus on communicating more and making our serve receive better tomorrow."
DUAL #1 – #20 TULANE 5, Carson-Newman 0
The Green Wave won four of the five matches in straight sets but the duo of Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) fell to Miah Diirell and Christina McAfee 21-11, 19-21 and 15-9.
The Eagles top duo of Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) were highly competitive but fell to Tea Juric and Jackie Wegner 21-17 and 21-16.
Madeline Mertz and Lan Nguyen topped Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) and Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) 21-11 and 21-10. Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) fell to Grace Weaver and Hannah Holmes 21-8 and 21-9 while Morgan Harlan (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) and Lindsey Wells (Morristown, Tenn.) lost to Courtney Liddle and Annie Shurtz 21-5 and 21-2.
RESULTS
No. 20 Tulane 5, Carson-Newman 0
Tea Juric/Jackie Wegner (Tulane) def. Rachel Harper/Jenna Wilson (C-N) 21-17, 21-16
Madeline Mertz/Lan Nguyen (Tulane) def. Sara Fairley/Taylor Lowe (C-N) 21-11, 21-10
Grace Weaver/Hannah Holmes (Tulane) def. Kristen Pickett/Kristina Hill (C-N) 21-8, 21-9
Courtney Liddle/Annie Shurtz (Tulane) def. Morgan Harlan/Lindsey Wells (C-N) 21-5, 21-2
Miah Diirell/Christina McAfee (Tulane) def. Lauren Santarelli/Anna Patton (C-N) 21-11, 19-21, 15-9
DUAL #2 – #14 SOUTH CAROLINA 5, Carson-Newman 0
Carson-Newman's No. 1 grouping of Harper and Wilson topped Julia Mannisto and Maddie Frome 21-14 in the first set before Mannisto and Frome escaped with a victory winning the final two sets 23-21 and 15-10.
Fairley and Lowe fell 21-8 and 21-11 to Paige Wheeler and Megan Kent. Pickett and Hill battled Jade Vitt and Sarah Blomgren but lost 21-9 and 21-10 while Harlan and Wells were defeated by Jade Hayes and Macie Tendrich 21-4 and 21-7.
RESULTS
No. 14 South Carolina 5, Carson-Newman 0
Julia Mannisto/Maddie Frome (USC) def. Rachel Harper/Jenna Wilson (C-N) 14-21, 23-21, 15-10
Paige Wheeler/Megan Kent (USC) def. Sara Fairley/Taylor Lowe (C-N) 21-8, 21-11
Jade Vitt/Sarah Blomgren (USC) def. Kristen Pickett/Kristina Hill (C-N) 21-9, 21-10
Jade Hayes/Macie Tendrich (USC) def. Morgan Harlan/Lindsey Wells (C-N) 21-4, 21-7
KoKo Atoa-Williams/Allie Monserez (USC) def. Lauren Santarelli/Anna Patton (C-N) 21-12, 21-10
The Eagles continue action in the Gamecock Invitational Saturday afternoon against UAB at 8:30 a.m. and Arizona State at 3 p.m.
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