VIDEO: Dan Ahiers Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head volleyball coach Dan Ahiers has signed five players to join the Eagle volleyball team for the upcoming season. The group includes four freshman and one senior transfer.

"My first recruiting class is great," Ahiers said of the quintet. "They are game-changing freshman coming into our program. They are going to contribute not just this year, but every year to come."

The Eagles add two setters, two outside hitters and a middle blocker to an experienced group.

"A class of hungry, program-changing athletes that can foster a culture for years to come of earning the right to be successful and being proud and confident of who they are on and off the court," Ahiers said of what he was looking for in his first recruiting class.

Anna Patton - Franklin, Tenn. – 6-0 - Setter

HIGH SCHOOL: Named to the 2014 All-District squad...Earned Team MVP honors as a senior...Recorded over 1,000 assists in her career...Tallied a 3.2 GPA during her four years

PERSONAL: Daughter of John and Marylove...Father, John, played football at Vanderbilt...Mother, Marylove, ran track at the University of Kentucky...Aunt played basketball at Carson-Newman...Majoring in Biology and Spanish

Dan Ahiers on Patton: "Another player that's tall, athletic and wants to learn the game. She's got hands that are still developing, but good thing for us is that she is left-handed so that will be a real force at the net."

Rachel Cutshaw – Whitesburg, Tenn. – 5-9 – Outside Hitter

HIGH SCHOOL: Four year varsity starter that fell just shy of 1,000 kills in her career...Led her team in kills and serve percentage as a senior...2010 IMAC Rookie of the Year -Volleyball...2011 IMAC Utility Player of the Year & 2011 IMAC All District Team - Volleyball...2012 IMAC Utility Player of the Year & 2012 IMAC All District Team - Volleyball...2013 IMAC Hitter of the Year, IMAC Server of the Year & 2013 IMAC All District Team - Volleyball...2013 IMAC Student Athlete Award - Volleyball...2014 IMAC First Team All Conference - Softball...2014 IMAC Student Athlete Award - Softball...2012 Most Digs - Volleyball...2012 Team Leadership Award - Softball...2013 Most Kills - Volleyball...2013 Most Aces - Volleyball...2014 Most Triples - Softball 

PERSONAL: Daughter of Chris and Jackie...Majoring in Biology Health Professions

Dan Ahiers on Cutshaw: "She's a player that is dynamic off of the ground. She has a really live arm. She is still learning to control that arm, but she brings a lot of energy to practice and the girls absolutely love her energy and her spirit."

Morgan Harlan – Ladera Ranch, Calif. – 6-2 – Setter

HIGH SCHOOL: Named AZ Dairymen All-American...Tabbed AZ All-State honorable mention...Played for a two-time Division I State Champion...Named team captain and earned the Coach's Award...Member of the National Honors Society...Also lettered in basketball

PERSONAL: Daughter of Shawn and Lynn...Father, Shawn, played basketball at the University of Illinois-Chicago and professionally for the Chicago Bulls and overseas...Mother, Lynn, played basketball at UIC...Majoring in Business

Dan Ahiers on Harlan: "A tall, physical setter who can also play middle. We are still trying to figure out exactly where she is going to play – in the middle or as a setter. The best part about her is that she can do either."

Kyrie Pennington – Charlotte, N.C. – 5-9 – Outside Hitter

HIGH SCHOOL: All-State performer as a senior...Named to the All-Conference unit twice

PERSONAL: Daughter of Tara Hartman-Gud...Father, Brad, played five seasons in the Major Leagues for Baltimore, Boston, California and Cincinnati...Majoring in Business

Dan Ahiers on Pennington: "Even though she is about 5'8", she explodes off of the ground. She has a hunger for the game and likes to dig every ball, likes to compete every point and I know that she is going to drive herself and drive the people around her."

Jenna Wilson (Sr.) – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. - 6-2 – Middle Blocker

2012 (UCSB): Racked up a team high 148 total blocks including 12 solo rejections...Finished third on the team with a .202 attack percentage after compiling 156 kills...Had at least five blocks on 16 occasions...Matched a career high 9 total blocks on three occasions (8/31 v. Idaho, 9/14 v. Yale and 11/9 v. Pacific)...Set a career-high with 12 kills at New Mexico (9/8) and at UC Davis (10/12)

2011 (UCSB): Was second on the team with 99 total blocks while leading the club with 18 solo rejections...Finished fourth on the team with a .271 attack percentage...Tallied 103 kills with just 29 errors...Tallied at least five total blocks on 10 occasions...Posted nine total blocks (7 BA, 2 BS) on November 25 v. San Diego State...Notched nine kills at Cal Poly on October 12

2010 (UCSB): Totaled six kills and seven blocks ....She appeared in 18 sets for the Gauchos ...Jenna had two kills in games against Cincinnati, Cal State Fullerton, and Sacramento State

HIGH SCHOOL: Jenna Wilson earned four varsity lette.rs between Colony High and Rancho Cucamonga High ... Won a litany of awards in her senior season: Named All-Region player by The Desert Sun, All-Inland Valley, First Team All-Baseline League, Ayala Tournament MVP and Los Osos All-Tournament Team ... Set a Rancho Cucamonga High record by recording 22 kills in a three-set match ... Led the Cougars to CIF-Southern Section Division 1A quarterfinals ... Played for coach Brandon Blevins ... As a junior was a Baseline League First Team pick and an All-Region player courtesy of The Desert Sun ... While at Colony High, helped team to 2006 Mt. Baldy League title ... Also played basketball where she was named First Team All-Mt. Baldy League ... Helped team to 2006-07 CIF-Southern Section Division 3A finals ... As a junior and senior at Rancho Cucamonga, she was a Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee ... Was part of the 2009 National High School Scholar Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of James and Fonda...Cousin, Jrue Holiday, plays in NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans...Cousin, Justin Holiday, played basketball for the University of Washington and currently plays overseas...Cousin, Lauren Holiday, plays basketball at UCLA...Majoring in Education

Dan Ahiers on Wilson: "The best part about Jenna is that I knew what I was getting. I had coached her for three years there at UC Santa Barbara. She's going to instantly be a leader and be an impact player on and off the court. She's a kid that you wish you had for four years and I will, but only for one more here."

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