VIDEO: Kiayna O'Neal Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (4-1) had their best night in terms of attack percentage since hitting .440 at Brevard on October 12, 2013 as the home team hit .412 against the Converse Valkyries (4-1) in a 25-13, 25-14 and 25-17 sweep Wednesday night at Holt Fieldhouse.
"We really took pride in first ball siding out," head coach Dan Ahiers said after about the offensive flow. "It really starts with a pass. We've got a back line right now that just absolutely puts the ball right where the setters can set great balls every single time."
The match was tied just three times and the Eagles trailed once over the course of the night as Carson-Newman was able to unload its bench and play 14 of the 15 players on the roster. With the win, Carson-Newman is now 14-0 all-time against Converse.
In the first frame, the home club was able to seize control on senior setter Kristen Pickett's (Cleveland, Tenn.) 100th career service ace to put the Eagles on top 14-7 before coasting to a 25-13 win. Junior middle blocker Kiayna O'Neal (Katy, Texas) led the way for Carson-Newman with five kills and a block assist.
In a second stanza where Carson-Newman hit .417, the Eagles pummeled 14 kills and used a 12-5 run to take a 21-11 lead before closing out the Valkyries in set two. Pickett dished out 11 assists to go along with three digs.
The third set gave Ahiers a chance to use a deep and talented bench as the Eagles finished on a 5-2 run to end the match. Carson-Newman cranked out 17 kills with just two errors in the frame for another .417 attack percentage.
O'Neal led the way with 13 kills and a .667 attack percentage to go along with three block assists. It was her best performance of the young season.
"I think it was more of making sure that I play for the girls next to me," O'Neal said of her consistent effort. "As soon as you start worrying about them, you take the pressure off of yourself and you just play as well as you possibly can."
Pickett earned her second double-double of the season with 33 assists and 11 digs. Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) walloped the ball with nine kills on ten chances for a .900 attack percentage and senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) clubbed nine kills and six digs.
With two days off, Carson-Newman gets set for a pair of games Saturday in the GRU Augusta Invitational against UNC Pembroke at noon and the host school at 2:00 p.m.
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