VIDEO: Dan Ahiers Interview

Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to remain perfect in South Atlantic Conference play, the Carson-Newman Eagles (8-3, 4-0 SAC) travel North Carolina to take on the Brevard Tornadoes (8-3, 2-2) and the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (8-3, 2-2). This weekend begins a string of six of eight matches away from the friendly confines.

"Brevard has struggled recently, but they are good team coached by a really good coach," head coach Dan Ahiers said. "Lenoir-Rhyne has got some really quality wins on their season. Somebody that will probably finish in the top half of our conference so it's going to be a really tough road trip."

The Eagles are coming off of a four-set victory against Mars Hill at Holt Fieldhouse Tuesday night where the Eagles held yet another opponent under a .200 attack percentage. Seven consecutive teams have been held up that threshold thanks to a stout block that ranks fourth in the league with 2.12 rejections per frame.

Senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) tallied career assists number 3,000 in the Mars Hill match as well as service ace 111 for her career which now ranks fifth on the Eagle all-time list.

"I'm really proud of her," Ahiers said of Pickett's ability to adapt. "She's grown every day from the day that I got here on campus and she is really leading this offense well."

Brevard and Carson-Newman will clash for the 16^th time Friday night at 7:00 p.m. as the Eagles look to remain perfect against the Tornadoes. In 2013, the Eagles swept the Tornadoes in both matches as Carson-Newman hit over .300 in both affairs including a season-high .440 at Boshamer Gymnasium. Senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) notched a double-double in each match with totals of 31 kills and 24 digs.

Rachel Ruble has been the stalwart for Brevard this season as she ranks third in the SAC with a .380 attack percentage. Ruble is coming off of a 20-kill match last weekend at Coker where she hit .654.

Carson-Newman has a 27-18 advantage in the all-time series with Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bears earned a pair of four-set wins in 2013 as they shut down the Eagle hitters with eight blocks in each of the two matches.

The Bears boast a pair of preseason All-SAC selections in first team pick Haley Rhyne and second team Briana Gottberg who ranks third in the conference by averaging 9.58 assists per set.

Be sure to follow @CNathletics on Twitter for updates on the matches this weekend and all of the most current Eagle news.

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