FLORENCE, S.C. - The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles gutted out a tough 3-1 win over home-standing Francis Marion University on Saturday morning en route to a perfect 4-0 start to the 2010 season at the FMU Volleyball Invitational this weekend in Florence, S.C.
 
C-N beat the Patriots on the strengths of winning three tight sets (three wins by a total of seven points) 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22. It would sweep Brenau University, 3-0, on Saturday afternoon, and topped both UNC Pembroke and Barton on Friday, 3-1.

Junior Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) led the lady Eagles with 25 blocks and a .400 hitting percentage on the weekend. She finished second on the team with 51 kills.

Senior all-region performer Carly Mozgai (Greensboro, N.C.) led the Lady Eagles with 56 kills on the weekend and added a team-high five aces. She also had 13 blocks.

Sophomore libero Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) carried the lady Eagles defensively with 92 digs, while senior Lara McDonald (Salem, Va.) and freshman Courtney Lawson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) combined for 185 assists.

Saturday, Sept. 4
Carson-Newman College def. Francis Marion University (3-1) 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-22

The Lady Eagles won their first true road match of the season by grinding out close set wins and knocking off the Peach Belt Conference's Patriots, 3-1, Saturday morning in Florence, S.C.

Mozgai led the Lady Eagles with a game-high 17 kills and hit .244 for the match. James added 11 kills and hit .333 for the match.

Hayes added 25 digs and sophomore Rachael Bowlin (Morristown, Tenn.) added 15 digs and nine kills. She also had two aces.

After grabbing the first set 25-23, the Lady Eagles would drop the second set to even the match at 1-1. C-N would gut out a pair of 25-22 wins in the final two sets to pick up the win and hand FMU its first loss of the season.

Carson-Newman College def. Brenau University (3-1) 25-15, 25-19, 25-18

The Lady Eagles hit .494 (45-of-85) as a team in cruising to a sweep of Brenau University in their final match of the Francis Marion Invitational, winning 25-15, 25-19, 25-18.

James led the Lady Eagles with 13 kills, while Mozgai added seven kills on 11 attempts.

Freshman Lindsey Bryant (Gainesville, Ga.) and junior Carly Swisher (Fort Collins, Colo.) each added eight kills in the win.

Friday's Games
Carson-Newman College def. Barton College (3-1) 19-25, 25-13, 25-15, 27-25

Carly Mozgai compiled 20 kills and Nikki James added nine kills and a team-high four blocks as the Lady Eagles rallied from a first-game loss to beat Barton in their season opener in four games, winning the last game 27-25.

Sophomore libero Angelle Hayes added fifteen digs in the win.

Mozgai carried the Lady Eagles in the clinching fourth game, tallying seven kills on nine attempts.

Carson-Newman College def. UNC Pembroke (3-1) 28-26, 28-26, 20-25, 25-18

Carson-Newman rallied from a 12-0 deficit to win the first set in a 3-1 win over UNC Pembroke on Friday afternoon at the Francis Marion Invitational.

The Lady Eagles would win the first two sets in extra points, including the huge rally in the first, to improve to 2-0 on the year.

James led the Lady Eagles with 18 kills on 35 attempts, while Mozgai added 12 kills. She also had three aces. 

Hayes would work her way into the NCAA 30-Dig Club with 32 digs in the win, while Carly Swisher added 5.5 blocks.

Carson-Newman returns to action on Tuesday in Holt Fieldhouse at 6:30 p.m. when the Lady Eagles host Lincoln memorial University in their South Atlantic Conference opener. The game will be video webcast live on http://www.cneagles.com.

Carson-Newman head coach Shannon Mincey on weekend preparations:
"Our team went into the Francis Marion tournament with mixed emotions anxious about how we would perform after losing a key middle hitter in the pre-season to a knee injury."

On rallying mutliple times on the weekend:
"We were given plenty of opportunities to come back in every match we played.  I know I have a real special team this year being able to see them come from behind and stay consistent in emotion without frustration. There were so many character moments throughout the weekend."

On UNC Pembroke rally/win:
"In the first set against UNC-Pembroke we were down 0-12. I have never been in a situation where my was down 12 to start the match.  In our huddle we discussed attempting to shift the momentum for the next set and to our suprise we all  experienced a really special comeback. We ended up beating them 28-26 scoring 28 points before they scored 14. I have to give my players alot of credit, they were versatile and willing to do whatever I changed up."

On the FMU win:
"I knew going into it we matched up well with FMU. Our teams are very similar in character and the offenses/defenses we ran. We focused on staying steady throughout the match. The FMU fans were great and provided a fun environment. We are very appreciative of the work the FMU staff did to put on such a great tournament."

On the week ahead:
"We still have a lot to work on and by no means are feeling elated. This week the top 4 preseason ranked teams in the conference play each other. LMU, Catawba and Wingate are very different teams with many strengths.  I told my freshman this week will be so much fun for you knowing you have to work incredibly hard for each point."