JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – A noon and a 2 p.m. first serve are on the docket for the Carson-Newman Eagles (4-1) this weekend against UNC Pembroke (1-6) and GRU Augusta (3-1) in Augusta, Ga. Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles attack this season has been electric by averaging 13.35 kills per set, the highest tally since college volleyball went to 25-point rally scoring in 2008. That number was bolstered in the match Wednesday night when the Eagles hit .412 against Converse in the home opener.
"Even if we don't make a good pass [setter Kristen Pickett] knows that she has hitters all over that she can set," head coach Dan Ahiers said about the Eagle front line. "She has trust in all of them to terminate the ball."
Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson ranks second in the South Atlantic Conference with a .525 attack percentage while junior middle blocker Kiayna O'Neal (.356) and senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (.345) rank fifth and sixth respectively.
"It's about the team win," Ahiers said about his team's mentality. "It's about what we can do collectively as a team. It's how we work together and that's exactly what we are working on."
Carson-Newman is 6-2 all-time against UNC Pembroke and GRU Augusta. In Holt Fieldhouse, the Eagles bypassed the Braves in straight sets 25-15, 25-12 and 25-17. Harper led the way with 11 kills and 11 digs to help her side hit .281 with four blocks in the match.
The Braves are off to a sluggish start losing six of their first seven matches of the season. To date, setter Sabrina Gonzalez has been the stand out as she is coming off of her first double-double of the season with 25 assists and 11 digs against Erskine. UNCP has found difficulty trying to put balls away as evident by a .114 attack percentage.
It has been six years since GRU Augusta has taken on an Eagle team. In 2008, the Jaguars were swept by Carson-Newman in a pair of matches that featured a .373 attack percentage by the Eagles.
The Jaguars have already played three SAC clubs with wins against Catawba and Queens (N.C.) while losing in four sets to Lenoir-Rhyne.
Despite a .191 attack percentage and just 20 blocks this season, Kristen Koch has thrived by averaging 3.88 kills per set on a .244 percentage.
Live stats can be found here with a live video stream located on GRU Augusta's UStream page.
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