WILMINGTON, N.C.— Carson-Newman began its time at the Dig and Dive Tournament with a pair of 5-0 shutout losses to College of Charleston and Tusculum on Saturday.
On the season, the Eagles (0-10) are now a combined 0-4 against the Cougars (9-0) and Pioneers (4-7), falling in those matches by a large 19-1 differential.
C-N fell in two-set decisions in all by one of its 10 duals on the day, that one not coming until late in the afternoon match against Tusculum.
"As a young program, we are competing against well-experienced teams." Carson-Newman coach Kody DuBarry said. "But I am so proud of their efforts and the determination they give every day."
Match 1 – College of Charleston 5, C-N 0
The Eagles No.5 seed of Lauren Williams and Dilyn Palmer got off to a rough start with a pair of losses to Katja Ehlers and Taylor Foley 21-16, 21-14.
The No. 4 duo, Lexy Headly and Taryn Nichols, was taken down in identical scoring sets of 21-15 by Logan Manusky and Allison Beckman.
Morgan Siwiec and Grace Seymour played at the No. 3 position for the Orange and Blue. The first set resulted in a 21-10 loss to Mandy Napierala and Amani Dunston before the C-N side regressed in the second set 21-1 to hand over the match to the Cougars 3-0.
Devon Rachel and McKala Rhodes defeated Aryana Fazelnia and Kelly Hughes at the No. 4 seed in quick sets of 21-5, 21-9.
At the top-seeded No. 1 spot, Summer Coulter and Abby Struewing competed against Kennedy Madison and Lauren Freed. The Cougars pairing beat the C-N group in the first set 21-9, and then again in speedy fashion, 21-6.
Match 2 – Tusculum 5, C-N 0
The No. 5 grouping of Lauren Williams and Dilyn Palmer stayed at arm's length in the first set, falling by a slim 21-19 margin. The Pioneer pairing of Katelyn Weems and Destiny Ramsey gained momentum going into the second set for a 21-11 victory.
Headly and Nichols lost in an epic extra point first set at the No. 4 spot, 24-22. Lydia Collins and Catherine Clingan rallied to beat the Eagles pair, 21-12.
The No. 3 tandem of Seymour and Siwiec competed in the Eagles' only three-set match of the day. They lost the first set 21-14, but turned around in the second set to win 21-15. A forced third set was won by Marissa Morgan and Lana Vujosevic, 15-12, giving Tusculum the official win of the day with a 3-0 lead.
At the No. 2 position, Aryana Fazelina and Kelly Hughes lost in similar set 21-15, 21-12 to the Pioneers duo Skyellar Hall and Gabby Gray.
Coulter and Struewing rounded out the day at the No. 1 position with back-to-back set losses to Melissa Mazur and Haley Davis. C-N lost the first set 21-10, tried to rally back in the second set but ultimately fell 21-16.
"I really hope they come out tomorrow and believe they can win tomorrow, because they can," DuBarry said. "I want to continue to see them compete their hearts out and overcome any adversity."
Carson-Newman will hit the sand tomorrow against Morehead State and Coastal Carolina tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
