JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – It took four sets, but the Carson-Newman Eagles (8-3, 4-0 South Atlantic Conference) earned out a 25-18, 14-25, 25-18 and 25-20 win against the Mars Hill Lions (2-9, 1-3 SAC) Tuesday night at Holt Fieldhouse.
The match was the second-lowest attack percentage by the Eagles this season at .095, but 11.5 team blocks set a new standard for Carson-Newman as it held Mars Hill to a .084 attack percentage.
"The win is definitely important," head coach Dan Ahiers assessed after the match. "We found a way to grind out a win. [Mars Hill] played incredible ball tonight. After we regrouped in the locker room, we came out with a little more intensity."
The first set saw the two teams tied at 11 before Carson-Newman went on an 11-5 run to take control. Senior outside hitter Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) crushed a ball to the ground to give the Eagles a set one victory.
The home team was out of sorts in the second stanza as Mars Hill won 13 of the first 18 points. Carson-Newman pulled within six points twice, but the visiting unit ran away with the frame as the Eagles were held to a -.125 attack percentage.
Carson-Newman opened the third set by winning seven of the first nine points. Mars Hill closed the gap on several occasions by never quite got into striking distance as timely kills from the Eagles ended the set.
The fourth set saw 11 ties and six lead changes as neither team led by more than three points until Carson-Newman went ahead 24-20. Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) ended the match with a blistering kill.
"It was probably the most frustrating thing we've seen all season," Wilson said of the effort by Mars Hill. "We haven't come across a defensive team that was that solid yet. It was hard to keep energized when they kept digging everything but we just had to keep pushing."
Wilson had 13 kills a season-high eight block assists to lead the way for Carson-Newman. Senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) each posted double-doubles. Harper notched 14 kills and 15 digs while Pickett tallied 36 assists and 11 digs. Pickett picked up her 3,000th career assist and moved into a tie for fifth in the school's service ace list with her 111th in her career.
Junior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) racked up her first career double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) posted a season-best 26 digs.
The Eagles are back in action this Friday against Brevard for a 7:00 p.m. first serve against the Tornadoes.
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