VIDEO: Cat Lind Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - A year after finishing with the second-most wins in a season in program history, Carson-Newman beach volleyball coach Cat Lind announced the 2022 beach volleyball schedule on Monday, Dec. 27.

The Eagles schedule features 26 scheduled matches, the most in a season since the 2019 season when the Eagles played 30 matches and compiled a 3-27 record.

The six home matches are the most since the 2019 season as well. Carson-Newman went 2-6 in Mossy Creek that season, with both wins coming over Eastern Kentucky. The Eagles were a perfect 4-0 at home during the 2021 season and are 8-12 all-time in Jefferson City.

"Home matches are a lot of fun for us," says head beach volleyball coach Cat Lind. "They're a privilege for us to have, especially with the new upgraded facility. There's also no stress or pressure on us at home so we can go out and have fun."

The schedule also features seven matches against six different Division I teams. The Eagles last played at least six Division I teams in 2019, going 2-8 against higher-level foes that season. Carson-Newman went 1-3 against NCAA Division I schools last season, defeating Chattanooga 3-2 on Mar. 24. All-time, Carson-Newman is 6-35 against Division I opponents.

The season begins on Feb. 19 as the Eagles open the newly upgraded beach volleyball facility with a doubleheader against Lincoln Memorial. The Eagles faced the Railsplitters just once in 2021, picking up a 5-0 win over LMU at the SAC Beach Challenge in Salisbury, N.C. LMU leads the all-time series 10-5, but Carson-Newman has won two of the last three meetings. The Splitters are 7-2 all-time in Mossy Creek.

The Eagles then begin a month-long road excursion with a short trip to Tusculum for a trio of matches in Greeneville, Tenn. The Eagles will face Eastern Kentucky on Feb. 25 before facing Chattanooga and the host Pioneers on Feb. 26. Carson-Newman leads the all-time series against EKU 2-1, picking up both wins in Mossy Creek in 2019. Carson-Newman is 1-1 all-time against Chattanooga. Both teams split a doubleheader last season in the Scenic City.

Carson-Newman is just 1-7 all-time against Tusculum, their only win coming in the 2021 season opener by a score of 3-1 in a match that was shortened due to darkness. Despite being located just 41 miles away from each other, the two squads have never played in Greeneville and just three matches have been played in the state of Tennessee. The Pioneers defeated the Eagles at the SAC Beach Challenge in Salisbury, N.C. and at the AVCA Small College Championships in Tavares, Fla. last season.

"Tusculum is our biggest rival," says Lind. "They're great competition and there's a lot of emotions entering and during the match. Our girls are always pumped for this game."

The squad will spend the next weekend in the Tarheel State, beginning on Mar. 4 with a tri-match against St. Andrews and Stevenson in Laurinburg, N.C. Carson-Newman defeated St. Andrews last season in their first-ever meetings with a pair of doubleheader sweeps in Mossy Creek to preserve a perfect record at home. Stevenson leads the all-time series against the Eagles 5-4, with the Mustangs dropping the last meeting 3-2 on Feb. 29, 2020. 

The Eagles then hop over to Salisbury, N.C. for a doubleheader against Catawba on Mar. 5. Carson-Newman is 0-2 all-time against Catawba, with the Indians picking up both wins in the 2021 season. The Eagles are 1-2 all-time in Salisbury, N.C., picking up a win over LMU at the 2021 SAC Beach Challenge. 

Carson-Newman heads west to Clarksville, Tenn. for a trio of matches against Division I competition, taking on Austin Peay on Mar. 11 and then facing Central Arkansas and Chattanooga on Mar. 12. Austin Peay leads the all-time series against Carson-Newman 4-0, sweeping the last three matches. The Governors have not dropped a set to the Eagles since Mar. 17, 2017. 

This will be the first-ever meeting between Central Arkansas and Carson-Newman. The Bears finished 18-16 in 2021 and finished second in the Southland Conference. The Bears will compete in the Atlantic Sun conference in 2022.

The Eagles return the nest on Mar. 19 with a doubleheader against Catawba. It is the first time the two teams have faced off in Mossy Creek. Carson-Newman is 3-10 at home against current SAC schools. 

Carson-Newman goes back on the road for their final road trip of the season to Macon, Ga. The Eagles will face host Mercer and Jacksonville State on Mar. 26 before facing the State College of Florida and Saint Leo on Mar. 27. 

"These tournaments with tough competition help us for the postseason," says Lind. "This team was built for this schedule. It'll be a tall task but these games will help us build towards nationals."

Carson-Newman and Mercer will meet for the first-time ever on Mar. 26. The Bears finished sixth in the ASUN last season with a record of 9-18. Mercer's last winning season came in 2019 when the team finished the year 7-6. 

The Eagles last played Jacksonville State in their only meeting on April 21, 2018. The Gamecocks took a 5-0 victory over C-N at the Ohio Valley Challenge in Clarksville, Tenn. 

The State College of Florida is a junior college based out of Sarasota, Fla. Carson-Newman has never faced a junior college team in beach volleyball. The Manatees went 9-4 last season, but went just 0-3 against Division II teams. SCF did pick up a win over NAIA Ave Maria in 2021.

The Eagles wrap up the trip to Macon with a match against Division II stalwart Saint Leo. The two squads have met just once with the Lions sweeping the Eagles 5-0 in 2019. The Lions went 12-5 last season, a school record for wins in program history, and defeated #2 Tampa at the AVCA Small College Championships. 

The regular season ends with the Eagles hosting a senior day doubleheader against St. Andrews on Mar. 31. Carson-Newman faced the Knights on Senior Day 2021, culminating in a pair of 5-0 sweep victories. 

Postseason play begins with the 2022 SAC Beach Challenge in Salisbury, N.C. The Eagles will face Tusculum on Apr. 8 before facing LMU and Catawba on Apr. 9. C-N went 1-2 in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2021, defeating Lincoln Memorial 5-0. 

"Seeing any team multiple times in a season is interesting, especially in beach volleyball," says Lind. "Pairs can change every match so teams will look different. Last year we struggled with Catawba but hopefully, now that we've seen them a few times we can take one from them."

The season ends in Tavares, Fla. for the 2022 AVCA Small College Championships on Apr. 14-16. C-N went 0-5 at the tournament last season and are 1-11 all-time at AVCA, the team's last win coming on April 21, 2019 against Principia. 

"We're a hard hat and lunch pail kind of gals," says Lind. "We're going to be better than everybody else and work harder than everybody else. These girls are gritty and want it more than anyone else and are ready to work for it. We have the talent and the work ethic, it all depends on how hard they want it this year."

Times for away games will be updated at a later date. To stay up-to-date with all of Carson-Newman athletics, head on over to cneagles.com or follow the Eagles on twitter at @cn_eagles.