JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman (11-16, 5-13 SAC) won the first set over Wingate (26-2, 16-2 SAC) 25-23, but the Bulldogs stormed back to capture the next three, picking up a four-set victory over the Eagles (23-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-13). 

Carson-Newman needed a victory over the conference leading Bulldogs to secure a spot in the SAC tournament. 

The Eagles say farewell to three seniors, Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.), Rachael Bowlin (Morristown, Tenn.) and Sabina Papala (Laziska Gorne, Poland) 

Hayes picked up 31 digs against the Bulldogs, continuing her bid to make an all-conference team.  The senior finishes her Eagle career with 1,991 digs.  She is third on the all-time digs list in school history.

Hayes matched a career high in digs set in her freshman season with 42 against Catawba on October 12. She has crested the 30-dig plateau seven times in her senior season, something she did four times in her first three seasons as an Eagle. During a five-match stretch in October, Angelle averaged 7.87 digs/set. Her .962 reception percentage this year is the best in her career.

Junior middle Emily Schultz (Atlanta, Ga.) notched the first double-double of her career against Wingate with a 10 kill, 10 dig performance.  Schultz also added three block assists while Papala rejected a solo block. 

Papala transferred to Carson-Newman for her senior season from St. Johns's. While

playing for the Red Storm her sophomore and junior seasons, Papala averaged .86 blocks per set. In her sophomore year, she registered a career-high 10 blocks, including nine assisted against Seton Hall.

She came close to topping that in an Eagle uniform this year with an eight block game against Newberry, the one difference, five of those were solo blocks. Her career highs in kills and hit percentage also came while wearing the orange and blue. She blasted 13 kills against Mars Hill on October 23 and had a .455 attack percentage to go with it.

Papala finished with five kills for the Eagles, sitting in front of her for that stat was Bowlin with a six-kill, nine-dig day. In her senior year, Bowlin set career highs for kills, swings, hit percentage, service aces, and solo blocks. This four-year member of the volleyball team plunked down 17 kills against Newberry on September 21. She's averaged a kill per set, 2.60 digs/set and has reached double figure service aces in three of her seasons at Carson-Newman. Her 1.51 kills/set in 2012 is a career best mark for her.

The Eagles conclude the season with an 11-16 mark overall and 5-13 in SAC play. 

-CN-