JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After a week off, the Carson-Newman Eagles (9-10, 4-8) return to action to finish a stretch of nine of 11 games away from home against the Tusculum Pioneers (12-7, 7-5) Tuesday evening.

The Eagles have dropped four of their last five contests while the Pioneers have lost two of three games. In the first meeting between the two clubs this season, Tusculum pulled out a five set victory at Holt Fieldhouse after Carson-Newman took a two sets to none advantage.

Tusculum cranked out a .331 attack percentage while Carson-Newman compiled a .224 clip. Junior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished with 23 kills, one shy of a career-high, while notching 71 attacks, the second-most in program history.

Sophomore middle hitter Kiayna O'Neal (Katy, Texas) recorded a career-high 15 kills on a .400 hitting percentage.

The Pioneers had four different players with double-figures in the kill category led by Megan Hasse's 17. Setter Hannah Berling dished out 51 assists.

LAST TIME OUT

Carson-Newman fell in straight sets at Mars Hill last Tuesday in a match that saw the Eagles tally their lowest attack percentage of the season hitting just .093.

"I attempted a different tactic, but to no avail," head coach Shannon Mincey said. "Mars Hill's defense was very consistent and we couldn't find a hole."

Junior outside hitter Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished with a season best 18 digs to go along with seven kills.

Tusculum is coming off of a five set loss to Lincoln Memorial in which the Pioneers led 9-6 in the fifth set before LMU stormed back for the win.

Hasse and Danae Stauffer racked up 13 kills while Rachel Garnett added 11 kills and three blocks for the Pioneers.

LEAGUE LEADERS

Harper ranks second in the South Atlantic Conference in total kills this season (256) and in service aces per set (0.45) while sitting in fourth place with 3.82 kills per set.

Junior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) sits in third place in the SAC with 9.23 assists per frame.

Tusculum libero Caitlyn Dean leads the conference with 415 digs and 6.01 scoops per set. In her career, Dean ranks fourth all-time among NCAA Division II players with 2,876 digs.

Hasse leads the conference with 31 service aces and 0.47 service aces per set.

Live stats are available for the match and you can follow @CNathletics on Twitter for updates during the match against the Pioneers.