JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second straight season, no one is better than Carson-Newman's Nikki James at turning back opponents at the net. The C-N senior and middle blocker leads the nation in blocks per set. She averages 1.67 per game in this week's NCAA statistics.
A year after setting the highest blocks per set total (since the NCAA went to the 25-point scoring system in 2008), James is trying to eclipse her own mark, which was 1.73 blocks per set a year ago.
James is trying to block her way, and Carson-Newman's, to a third-straight NCAA Tournament to close out her career. It would be a fourth for the program. With a solid finish to the final week of the conference season, C-N would be poised for a fourth-straight NCAA bid.
Last season, James pushed the 200-block plateau for the season. This season, she's pushing 160 with a week left in the season and potentially a SAC Tournament run and NCAA berth ahead.
As a team, C-N is averaging 2.69 blocks, which also leads the nation. The blocking success has taken pressure off a banged-up back row, which has played much of the season without All-SAC candidate Angelle Hayes at libero.
The Lady Eagles are 15-12 overall and are ranked 7th in this week's NCAA Regional Rankings. C-N faces the region's No. 9 ranked, Lenoir-Rhyne, team next Friday (Nov. 4) in Jefferson City. It won the first meeting with the Bears back in September in five sets.
Carson-Newman returns to action on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C. It won the first meeting with the Lions in late September, 3-1, in Jefferson City.
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