Dave Franklin Interview 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.—The Carson-Newman beach volleyball squad is set to endure its second-full season of the program when the season kicks off with a four-match slate at the Stetson Sand Tournament with a new coach and a number of newcomers on the roster for the 2016 campaign.

"We just had our first day of practice and some of the comments were that it was a lot better than last year," coach Dave Franklin said. "The girls are a little more prepared and some of the freshman that aren't necessarily beach players were introduced to it yesterday and looked really good. I think our expectations will be to be a little bit more completive this year."  

Dave Franklin, who took over the program in January, is set to begin his tenure as Carson-Newman's new head man when the season commences on March 4.

"I'm really excited about the season begining to get underway," Franklin said. "I know I am enjoying it so far. I think it is a chance for us to build trust in one another and at the same time let them know that I can lead them and know that I care about them as well."

Franklin will be assisted by second year coach Kirby Toribio and first year coach, and former beach player, Jenna Wilson.

In their inaugural season a year ago, the Eagles tallied two wins which included a 3-2 victory over Webber International on April 4 and another win over Division II's only other beach volleyball program at the time, Eckerd, 5-0 on April 6.

Now in the second year of the program, Carson-Newman will look to increase its win total while further solidifying its stance as one of Division II's up and coming programs in the sport.

"The biggest difference between indoor and beach volleyball is the use of hands," Franklin said. "In outdoors, when you set a ball, it has to come out perfectly with no spin. It's also a lot more of using the hands to block the ball instead of playing the ball. You will see the ball go over [the net] more after two hits compared to three. There is a lot more strategy used and it's more of a finesse game than a power game outdoors."  

Five Eagle pairings were able to string together dual victories a season ago led by Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) with a 3-8 record while spending time as a part of the team's No. 3 duo for most of the season.

Senior Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) will also be back for her final season wearing a Carson-Newman uniform. Along with former C-N player Kristen Pickett, Fairley notched three wins in the second-best paring a season ago.

Another notable returner who picked up wins during dual play a season ago is Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.). Then, the junior Hill linked up with former Eagle Lauren Santarelli to pick up a win at the No. 2 paring in 2015.

Junior Eileen Anderson (Pittstown, N.J.) is the only other returner who will be suiting up in 2016 that was on the roster during the program's first slate of contests a season ago.

C-N will welcome a heap of newcomers to the squad this season that look to help the program in its continued growth in its second season.

Katie Will (Clearwater, Fla.) and Ally King (Cincinnati, Ohio) saw limited action this past fall during indoor slate, but the duo was primarily brought to Mossy Creek for beach purposes. The freshmen will be looking to make a big splash this season in their first year in the program.

Other notable addition to the 2016 beach squad include All-Southeast Region indoor selectee Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) and freshmen Allie Foster (Johnson City, Tenn.), Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.), Megan Morris (Mount Pleasant, S.C.), Hanna Robertson (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and Maddie Zyburt (Plainfield, Ill.).

Carson-Newman will begin the season with action at the Stetson Sand Tournament on March 4 while taking part in contests between Tulane, Missouri Baptist, Spring Hill, Eckerd and Webber. The Eagles will then take on Eckerd again with a pair matches scheduled on March 13 at Stevenson.

The Gamecock Invitational will then play host to C-N and Jacksonville before the Eagles head to the South Carolina Sand Tournament to take on the University of Alabama Birmingham, TCU and South Carolina.

Carson-Newman will then host its first home match in program history on April 9 by welcoming South Atlantic Conference foe Lincoln Memorial to campus. 

"I think the girls are really excited about hosting a match this season and so am I," Franklin said. "Just to be able to showcase the girl's skills and their hard work any time you get the chance to is great. The beach program is known and has been talked about, but the campus and community have never gotten the chance to see it or how a dual works. To get the community and campus rallying behind our girls will be a fun experience."   

The Eagles will then compete in the South Carolina Sand Tournament once more on April 16 and 17 with competitions against UNCW, LSU, Coastal Carolina and South Carolina.

C-N will conclude the 2016 season at the Stevenson Tournament with action against Stevenson and Rutgers-Newark.

"The expectation is to compete our butts off and to continue on getting better every day," Franklin said.

To keep up with everything going on with Carson-Newman beach volleyball, follow us on twitter at @carsonnewmanVB and online at cneagles.com.

-CN-