VIDEO: Dan Ahiers Interview

VIDEO: Rachel Harper Interview

VIDEO: Kristen Pickett Interview

VIDEO: Newberry Highlights

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Newberry Wolves (15-15, 9-13 South Atlantic Conference) took the first two sets before the Carson-Newman Eagles (25-5, 20-2 SAC) sent their seniors off in style by winning 20-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21 and 15-8 Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse.

The 25 wins for the Eagles are the most by the program since 2004 and qualifies for the SAC Tournament since 2011.

"We have four stellar seniors on our team," head coach Dan Ahiers said. "It's been a celebration for them the past couple of days with all of the different family members in town. They came out a little flat. Luckily for us, they found a way in the third, fourth and fifth sets and weren't going to take a loss on their senior night."

Carson-Newman took a 7-2 advantage in the first set before Newberry slowly chipped away at the lead and tied the score at 15. After the two teams exchanged rallies until a 6-2 run gave the Wolves the separation they needed to grab the frame. Carson-Newman hit .026 in the first set and was led by freshman outside hitter Kyrie Pennington (Charlotte, N.C.) who had four kills.

The second stanza featured seven ties most of which came at the beginning with the score tied at 10. A 7-4 spurt made it 17-14. The Eagles were able to tie the score at 23 before the Wolves capped the set. Senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) led the way with six kills and five digs.

The third game was tied at seven until the home unit used a 7-2 run to make it 14-9. It was an advantage that the Eagles only extended as senior outside hitter Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) pounded a ball to the surface to take the set. Senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) had 11 assists.

In the fourth set, the two teams were tied nine times and changed leads seven times. A 9-9 contest saw the Eagles reel off four straight points. The Eagles never held a lead of less than two the rest of the way before forcing a fifth set on a Newberry attack error. Harper pummeled the ball with seven kills and a .353 attack percentage.

Newberry earned the first two points of the fifth set before Carson-Newman countered with a 7-1 run to take control of a stanza that was never in doubt. Fittingly, the Eagles sealed the deal on a kill by Harper.

Harper matched a season-high with 18 kills on a .318 attack percentage to go along with a career-high seven assists and 19 digs for her 12^th double-double of the year.

"It really was a team effort," Harper said. "I couldn't have done it without my defense behind me, the blocks slowing down the balls and Kristen Pickett of course. She's the best setter in the conference in my opinion."

Wilson notched her second match with five blocks this season to accompany 11 kills.

Pickett handed out 52 assists and nine digs while Santarelli had 10 kills and four block assists.

"It was really good to get a win," Pickett said. "Newberry is a really good team. It was really hard with it being senior night, but I'm so glad we could fight back and win."

Sophomore libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) had her first 20-dig match since September 27 with 24 digs.

Holly Brisson led Newberry with 13 kills while Logan Hayward had 21 digs.

Carson-Newman will have the second seed for the upcoming SAC Tournament with its first game on Friday against seventh-seeded Mars Hill Friday at 5 p.m.

- CN -