VIDEO: Dan Ahiers Interview

Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the final time in 2014, the Carson-Newman Eagles (20-5, 15-2 South Atlantic Conference) take to the road to face the Coker Cobras (4-20, 1-16 SAC) Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and the No. 7 Wingate Bulldogs (24-1, 17-0 SAC) Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

The final regular season week without a Tuesday helped the Eagles spend time in the gym refining things in preparation for the stretch run.

"It was really nice to not have a Tuesday match," head coach Dan Ahiers said. "We gave the girls an extra day off to give them an extra day of rest. We really focused on our serve receive and defense."

The Eagles have several opportunities in the regular season to improve upon their No. 9 ranking in the initial regional rankings. Ahiers stresses the necessity of his team taking care of business.

"We have to win," Ahiers said. "That's really what it comes down to. Are we happy to be ninth? Yes and no. To be one of the top 10 teams in the region is really good for this team. The last couple years they haven't been anywhere close to that."

One player that Ahiers will look to for more consistent production is senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.). The three-time SAC Player of the Week has hit above .200 in just one of her last seven matches despite high kill tallies.

"No Tuesday match helped get her healthy," Ahiers said. "She is going to get rolling again. As the best player in the conference, every team targets her on serving and defense and follow her when she is hitting. The best part is that she is carrying the load and that's why we are second in the conference."

Carson-Newman and Coker tangle for the fourth time in the series history with the Eagles coming out victorious in the previous three meetings including a sweep on October 3 at Holt Fieldhouse.

In the match, the Eagles outhit the Cobras .350 to .044 as three players notched double-digit kills led by freshman outside hitter Kyrie Pennington (Charlotte, N.C.) who had 12 kills on a .571 attack percentage. Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and junior middle blocker Kiayna O'Neal (Katy, Texas) each had 10 kills.

Megan Hardy led the attack for the Cobras with nine kills on a .389 attack percentage.

Wingate enters the weekend riding a 54-game SAC winning streak with 25 consecutive wins against Carson-Newman dating back to a five-set win for the Eagles on September 24, 2005. The Bulldogs hold the series advantage 41-13 after sweeping Carson-Newman at Holt Fieldhouse on October 4.

The Bulldogs had the most efficient day of any Eagle opponent in that match by cranking out a .330 attack percentage on 43 kills, the most in a three-set match this year by an Eagle foe.

Shelly Stumpff led the way for Wingate with 11 kills and 16 digs.

Senior outside hitter Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) paced the Eagles with nine kills.

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