BELMONT Calif. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (3-1) toughed out a five set victory against Humboldt State (3-1) and lost in straight sets to the Academy of Art (3-1) Saturday afternoon on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur to conclude play in the Route 92 Showdown.
"I'm completely impressed with our team," head volleyball coach Dan Ahiers said after the day ended. "Both Humboldt State and Academy of Art are both unbelievable teams that will probably finish top two in their conferences."
Match No. 1 – Carson-Newman 3 Humboldt State 2
Carson-Newman had not won a five set match since September 13, 2013 against Trevecca Nazerene, a string of five straight losses in matches that went the distance. Today, the long distance travelers were composed under pressure against a tough Humboldt State.
The Eagles fell behind early in the first set. Trailing by five points, they began an 8-3 run to tie the score at 18. The two sides battled the rest of the way with neither team holding a lead of more than one until a pair of late kills gave the Jacks a 25-22 first set victory.
The two sides were locked up at 17-17 in the second frame when the Eagles concluded the set on an 8-1 run. Senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) aided the rally with a pair of service aces and junior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) ended the set with a kill.
After dropping the third set 25-8, Carson-Newman looked rejuvenated in the fourth set taking a 16-10 lead on a kill by senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) It was a lead that the Eagles never relinquished as the team from Tennessee held on for a 25-18 win.
In the decisive fifth set, Carson-Newman stormed out to a 4-0 advantage prompting a timeout from the Jacks after a service ace by Pickett. Humboldt State looked determined to make a run pulling within two on several occasions, but the Eagles took a 15-9 win to seal the match.
Three Eagles finished in double figures in terms of kills. Harper led the way with 17 and tallied her first double-double of the year with 14 digs. Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) notched 15 kills, a .591 attack percentage and five block assists. Fairley supplied 13 kills for a .306 attack percentage.
Pickett recorded her first double-double of the year tallying 48 assists and 10 digs. Sophomore libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) piled up 19 digs.
"We just got done play six-and-a-half hours of volleyball," Ahiers said of his team's effort. "The team is a little tired. I'm really impressed. We were down 2-1 in the first match against Humbolt State. The team came out with no mental recourse and took it to them the next two sets."
Match No. 2 – Academy of Art 3 Carson-Newman 0
The Eagles had 35 minutes from the time the Humboldt State match ended to the first serve of the match against the Academy of Art and the heavy legs began to show. The first set did not do Carson-Newman any favors either as both sides battled in a frame that featured 14 ties. Academy of Art eventually pulled out a 29-27 win.
Carson-Newman hung tough once again in the second set, but a 5-0 run in the middle of the frame helped the Urban Knights take a 25-22 set victory.
The Urban Knights won 16 of the final 21 points of the match as the Eagles could not muster a late rally falling in the final stanza 25-15.
Harper once again led the way with 17 kills and nine digs. Fairley notched 11 kills while Pickett handed out 31 assists.
Carson-Newman returns to Jefferson City, Tenn., for its home opener against Converse Wednesday with first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.
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