Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Having played every team in the South Atlantic Conference once, the Carson-Newman Eagles (14-4, 10-1 SAC) begin their second half of league play Tuesday night in North Carolina against the Mars Hill Lions (6-12, 5-6 SAC) at 7:00 p.m.
The first portion of the Eagles' league schedule featured seven of 11 games away from Holt Fieldhouse where Carson-Newman went a perfect seven-for-seven in road conference matches.
"I didn't realize how many road games we had to start the season until this past weekend," head coach Dan Ahiers said of the slate thus far. "It will be nice to start playing a bunch of matches at home after Mars Hill. I think the girls are excited about that. They play better here and we have a great fanbase."
The lone true road loss this year for Ahiers' group was a setback at GRU Augusta when the Eagles did not have the services of the top offensive player in the conference, senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
With ten wins already in league play this season, Carson-Newman has won double-digit SAC matches for the first time since 2010 and pierced the double-digit mark for just the seventh time in 26 years as a member of the SAC.
In the first meeting between the two teams this season, it took Carson-Newman four sets to top Mars Hill on September 23. The Lions held the Eagles to a .095 attack percentage, Carson-Newman's second-lowest output of the season. Mars Hill notched 79 digs and 9.5 blocks as part of an effort to slow down a potent Eagle offense.
Carson-Newman had three players notch double-figure kill contests led by Harper's 14 teaming up with 13 from senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and ten from junior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.).
The Eagles used a stout block of their own that rejected 11.5 attack attempts led by eight block assists from Wilson to hold the Lions to a miniscule .084 attack percentage.
Rebecca Butler put together one of the top matches of the year by an Eagle opponent this season as she had 13 kills, 24 digs and five block assists to lead Mars Hill.
Mars Hill and Carson-Newman will meet for the 54th time as the Eagles hold a 33-20 advantage in the all-time series.
Live stats for the contest can be found by clicking here or follow @CNathletics on Twitter for the most current updates on Carson-Newman volleyball.
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