VIDEO: Rachel Harper Interview
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – For the first time since the 2010 campaign and fifth time in program history, the Carson-Newman Eagles are NCAA Tournament bound. The Eagles earned an at-large spot and are the No. 6 seed in the Southeast region and will play at noon on Thursday against the third-seeded USC Aiken Pacers.
"It feels great," head coach Dan Ahiers said. "We know we are a good team and the NCAA had to know we were a good team. We are definitely blessed to be in the tournament. It's win and advance time."
The Eagles are 2-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament competition and defeated the Tusculum Pioneers in four sets in the first round of the tournament in 2010 before falling to Flagler in a three-set contest.
Carson-Newman and USC Aiken have faced off seven times before as the Pacers hold 4-3 advantage in the all-time series history. Thursday will mark the first time since the 2004 season that the two teams will meet as Carson-Newman swept that meeting.
The Eagles have been led by first team All-South Atlantic Conference selections Rachel Harper and Jenna Wilson this year. Harper, a senior outside hitter from Chattanooga, Tenn., led the league with 3.62 kills per set and 4.4 points per set. Wilson, a senior middle blocker from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., ranked fourth in the league with 3.9 points per set while pacing the conference with 1.18 blocks per set.
Carson-Newman lost in five sets to Anderson (S.C.) Saturday evening in the SAC semifinals.
"I always wanted to do this and to get it my senior year, it's a great feeling," Harper said. "Yesterday we had some tears and heartache from that loss, but to see that people still believe in us and still want to see us in that tournament and that we've earned the right to be there, it's a great feeling."
In his first season as a head coach, Dan Ahiers becomes the third different Eagle head coach to lead Carson-Newman to the NCAA Tournament. Perry Robinson took the Eagles to the 2002 tournament while Shannon Mincey led the Eagles to the 2008, 2009 and 2010 NCAA Tournaments.
SAC regular season and conference champion Wingate will host the Southeast region event at Cuddy Arena for the sixth time in seven years. Wingate will provide Free HD video for every contest, along with live stats.
NCAA Southeast Region Schedule
Thursday, Nov. 20 - at Cuddy Arena, Wingate University
12 p.m. - #3 USC Aiken vs. #6 Carson-Newman
2:30 p.m. - #2 Armstrong State vs. #7 Lenoir-Rhyne
5 p.m. - #4 GRU Augusta vs. #5 Anderson
7:30 p.m. - #1 Wingate vs. #8 Erskine
Friday, Nov. 21 - at Cuddy Arena, Wingate University
5 p.m. - Match One Winner vs. Match Two Winner
7:30 p.m. - Match Three Winner vs. Match Four Winner
Saturday, Nov. 22 - at Cuddy Arena, Wingate University
5 p.m. - Region Championship Match
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