C-N faces two losses in day one of Small College Championships

C-N faces two losses in day one of Small College Championships

TAVARES, Fla. – Carson-Newman could not win a set in either of its matches against Florida Southern and Spring Hill to open the AVCA Small College Championships in Tavares, Fla. On Friday.

The Eagles (2-22) competed in three regulation matches rather than the five seen in standard outings. The first three teams to finish their matches were recorded as the final result.

C-N fell to Florida Southern (12-13) in three-straight matches before seeing a similar outing against Spring Hill (14-10) later on, giving the Orange and Blue a rough start to the weekend.

"Our young team struggled to keep their intensity for 21 points," Director of Beach Volleyball Dave Franklin said. "We can do it for spurts and we look awesome, but at this time we just have too many ups and downs that our opponents do not have and it's keeping us from getting over that hump." 

Match One: Florida Southern 3, C-N 0

At the No. 5 seed sat Dilyn Palmer and Taryn Nichols. The C-N duo was crushed by the Mocs' pairing in steep back-to-back sets, 21-7 and 21-4.

Lauren Williams and Lexy Headley competed at the No. 4 spot. The two lost the first set 21-14 and regressed slightly in the second set, 21-12.

The deciding game came against Grace Seymour and Montgomery Sauter at the No. 2 position. The Eagles tandem put up a tremendous fight in the first set but ultimately lost, 22-20. The Mocs' group trampled over Seymour and Sauter in the second set 21-6 to clinch the 3-0 win.

Match Two: Spring Hill 3, C-N 0

At the No. 4 flight, Williams and Headly lost the first set 21-15. The C-N pair brought the heat in the second set to push the game final within two points but could not capitalize, losing 21-19.

Seymour and Sauter lost in consecutive sets at the No. 2 spot. Spring Hill's duo won in quick fashion 21-9, 21-7.

The top-seeded grouping of Summer Coulter and Abby Struewing lost their first set in a tight scoring affair, 21-17. They reverted in the second set and lost 21-8, giving the Badgers the 3-0 sweep over the Eagles.

The Eagles will face Lincoln Memorial on Saturday at 8 a.m. This game will determine who C-N will play in the afternoon.