Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Head coach Dan Ahiers will make his collegiate head coaching debut this weekend as the Carson-Newman volleyball team flies to California to take part in the Route 92 Showdown in a two-day event. Friday's matches include a 2:00 p.m. first serve against Notre de Namur and a 7:30 p.m. start versus Holy Names. Saturday begins at 4:30 p.m. against Humboldt State and the Eagles conclude the tournament versus the Academy of Art at 7:30 p.m.

"I think we are very mentally prepared," Dan Ahiers said prior to the team hopping on a flight. "We are physically prepared. We are healthy. We have absolutely no injuries on the team right now and going into the start of the matches and the season, that's what you are hoping for."

This weekend marks the furthest west a Carson-Newman volleyball team has travelled in the 26-year history of the program. Its previous long was a 2000 four-match tournament in Marshall, Minn. hosted by Southwest State. The result was a 1-3 journey.

Many of the Carson-Newman athletes have never been to California. The team is ecstatic about the opportunity to go west for the matches and the overall experience.

"I think it's going to be great," Ahiers said of what the team will go through. "I think we've only had four of the 15 girls on the team have ever been to California. It's not just about the matches. We are excited to play our first matches. We are excited to win our first matches, but the whole team bonding aspect of it is going to be the best part."

A California team has never faced an Eagle club. In fact, the western-most team Carson-Newman has ever faced was in 2000 when the Eagles fell to Northern State in four sets, a team located in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Ahiers's group is looking to be the fourth team in school history to begin a season 4-0. All three instances have come in the past decade (2004, 2007 and 2010). The 2007 club has the record for best start ever as they went 13-0 out of the gates.

The Eagles will look to continue their success in lidlifters as Carson-Newman has won seven of their last eight contests to start the season. The lone loss in that group was a five-set loss to Francis Marion in 2012.

Carson-Newman returns a steady group from last season led by senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.). Harper, a first team All-South Atlantic Conference preseason selection received a heavy dose of sets from Pickett last season and is 138 kills from 1,000 in her career. Pickett, a second team All-SAC selection, ranks second in school history with 2,680 assists.

The Eagles are en route to the home state of Ahiers (San Diego), assistant coach Kirby Ellis (Bakersfield) and current players Morgan Harlan (Ladera Ranch) and Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga).

Notre Dame de Namur is providing live stats and video for all four of Carson-Newman matches by clicking here or by visiting the Route 92 Showdown Page.

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