JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Eagles' volleyball squad was selected to finish ninth, out of twelve teams in the South Atlantic Conference, in the upcoming 2013 season.
Head coach Shannon Mincey returns four key players from last year's team that finished ninth in the SAC with an 11-15 (5-12) record. Outside hitter Lauren Santarelli and setter Kristen Pickett played in all 101 sets last season.
Santarelli, a junior, finished second on the team in kills with 259 and service aces with 19. The Colorado Springs native ranked third on the team with three double-doubles while registering a .191 attack percentage.
Pickett tallied 39 aces in during her sophomore campaign, fourth-best in the SAC. The Cleveland, Tenn. native dished out 8.88 assists per set while ranking third on the Eagles' roster with 2.4 digs per set in 2012.
Perhaps the most versatile player from last year's squad was outside hitter Rachel Harper. The Chattanooga, Tenn. native led the team in kills with 280, ranked second with 20 service aces, ranked fourth in digs per set with 1.98 and tallied 36 total blocks, good for fourth-most on the roster.
"Harper, Pickett, and Santarelli have all played since their freshman year," Mincey said. "To see them now be able to flourish in their junior years that is going to be fun for me."
Senior Emily Schultz is looking to build off of a successful first season at Carson-Newman that saw the transfer from the College of Charleston appear in 92 sets. The Atlanta native finished third on the team with 44 blocks while compiling 139 kills.
"She was new last year," Mincey said of Schultz. "I see her really growing and maturing in our program to where she knows what is going on now after being new last year."
Sophomore middle Kiayna O'Neal finished third on the team with a .242 attack percentage in 2012 has impressed the coaching staff in the preseason so far.
After playing in 20 matches in 2012, sophomore setter Lindsey Wells is slated to be the second setter again in the Eagles 6-2 offensive attack.
As one of two liberos listed on the roster, Kristina Hill is working for the chance to be the full-time starter after seeing action in 22 matches accumulating 45 digs.
Sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist Kianna Sedlacek and outside hitter Sara Fairley participated in more than half of the matches in their first season at Carson-Newman.
"By observing them, they have had a great summer," Mincey said of the returning underclassmen. "I can tell from all five of them that they have worked out very hard. I'm quite impressed by all five of them."
Mincey has to replace Rachael Bowlin, Angelle Hayes, Sabina Papala and Ashley Ferris. Bowlin and Hayes participated in all 101 sets Carson-Newman played in 2012. Papala notched a team-best 19 solo blocks while hitting a team-high .270 hitting percentage. Ferris ranked second on the roster with a .250 attack percentage as she appeared in 80 sets.
Carson-Newman will hold the annual orange and blue scrimmage Tuesday evening beginning at 6:00 p.m.
2013 SAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team Points (1st-place votes)
1. Wingate 121 (11)
2. Tusculum 109 (1)
3. Lincoln Memorial 98
4. Newberry 80
5. Lenoir-Rhyne 78
6. Catawba 69
7. Queens 66
8. Mars Hill 52
9. Carson-Newman 45
10. Anderson 41
11. Brevard 18
12. Coker 15
2013 SAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
First Team
Anna Hilton, WU
Samantha Parrish, NEW
Haley Rhyne, L-R
Caitlyn Dean, TC
Lexi Potter, WU
Kassie Voelker, TC
Susie Murach, WU
Ashley Sarmiento, TC
Second Team
Shelly Stumpff, WU
Marissa Wixson, MHU
Shannon Gillespie, AU
Megan Hasse, TC
Keri Kemp, QU
Alison Cooke, WU
Maggie Murphy, MHU
Danae Stauffer, TC
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