JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman beach Volleyball (17-0) will celebrate senior day on Mar. 21st when they take on St. Andrews University (9-12).
The Eagles will recognize five seniors on Tuesday, including Mia Toribio, Abbey Hildenbrand, Kenzie Palmer, Piper Halcrow, and Julia Wheeler.
Toribio is currently ranked second in program history with 36. She has seen most of her work in the three spot with 27 wins, but also racked up six last season in the one spot. Toribio is 7-2 so far this season. Toribio is the only Eagle on the roster to have played in the last four seasons.
"Mia has been one of my favorite stories as a coach," head coach Cat Lind said. "She is an athlete that I continue to admire and find so much joy in coaching."
Hildenbrand is one of the seven Eagles that have enjoyed a perfect record this year, racking up 17 straight wins in the two spot paired with Ava Fountain. The Louisiana Tech transfer is coming off a historic indoor season. She ranked sixth in the SAC with 8.36 assists per set, sixth in total aces with 36, fourth in the league, and 44th in Division II with 1,045 total assists. Hildenbrand holds a career record of 29-16 in two seasons during beach volleyball competitions. She currently ranks sixth in school history with a win percentage of 64.4%. Hildenbrand paired up with Fountain to take down Bob Jones 21-1 on Mar. 4th, marking the largest blowout in school history.
"Abbey is a strong-minded and determined player who is always striving to better herself and her game," Lind said. "I am so thankful to have an athlete like Abbey in this program. Her determination and maturity have taken this program to the next level."
Palmer reached a record of 15-8 in two seasons of beach volleyball play. She is 9-1 this season, primarily in the four spot. In 2022, Palmer held a record of 3-1 in the one spot. Palmer last saw action against Bob Jones University on Mar. 4th when she paired up with Halcrow to take down the bears 21-7 and 21-3. Their second set was the third-largest blowout of the season.
"Kenzie is easily the sweetest and gentlest person I have had the pleasure of coaching," Lind said. "It has been a true honor to be a part of Kenzie's life and her journey. I am confident that she will continue to make a difference in the lives of everyone she meets."
Halcrow has a perfect 15-0 record this season, exclusively in the five spot. She is one of seven Eagles that have reached at least 30 career wins. Her 68.2% win percentage ranks second in team history among players who have completed at least one full season.
"Piper is a senior who embodies our culture and who we are. She is determined and applies herself in everything that she does," Lind said. "I admire the dedication that Piper has to be her best self. I have learned a lot from Piper, and it has been an honor to coach her and be a part of her life."
Julia Wheeler is coming off of a historic indoor volleyball season as an outside hitter. The Tennessee Tech transfer was the first Carson-Newman player in program history to earn second-team All-American honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. She ranked second in the country in kills per set (4.38), 10th in points per set (4.83), and fifth in total kills (504). She carried her attacking mentality into her beach volleyball season, where she is currently 17-0. Wheeler has split her time between the three and four spots this season. On Mar. 3rd, Wheeler paired up with Mckenna Hall to defeat Lynchburg's four pair in sets of 21-18 and 21-2. Their second set marks the second-largest blowout of the season. Wheeler holds a career record of 24-14 with a perfect record of 11-0 in the three spot over the last two seasons.
"Julia is easily one of the most improved athletes in this program," Lind said. "Coaching an athlete like Julia is a gift. Her athleticism and ability to adapt and learn is something that coaches dream of."
Carson-Newman's five seniors have led the Eagles to a perfect 17-0 record for the first time in program history. The Eagles have broken the record for most wins in a season, most wins in a single month, most consecutive wins, most shutouts in a season, and most wins against division I opponents in a single season.
Carson-Newman will take on a familiar foe for senior day when St. Andrews arrives on the banks of Mossy Creek. The Eagles have defeated the Knights twice already this season. On Feb. 10th, the Eagles won 4-1, including a 21-4 second-set victory from Sierra Still and Truth Hafey in the one spot. The Eagles shut out the Knights 5-0 at St. Andrew's home courts on Mar. 4th.
Senior day festivities will begin at 11:20 A.M. at Carson-Newman's beach complex. Action is scheduled to start at noon.
For more information on Carson-Newman's beach volleyball program, visit cneagles.com or follow Carson-Newman athletics on social media.
