JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – This is the second in a three-part series analyzing the 2015 Carson-Newman volleyball roster that is looking to replace five All-South Atlantic Conference selections and three All-Region honorees. Continuing with senior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) this feature will look at the outside hitters.
While the middle blockers have big shoes to fill, the outsides might have bigger shoes after the graduation of four-year starters Rachel Harper and Lauren Santarelli. Harper was a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference selection in her career and capped things off last season with a year that warranted All-Southeast Region nods from Daktronics and AVCA. Harper ranked 24th nationally with 4.5 points per set while concluding her career with over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs.
Santarelli was honorable mention All-SAC in 2015 after dominating the right side in a year where she piled up 216 kills on a .179 attack percentage. Despite battling injuries, the Colorado Springs, Colo. native racked up 921 kills in her career and 572 digs in 104 matches.
"I learned a lot from Rachel and Lauren," Fairley said. "They were absolutely great leaders on the court. I'll definitely take away their aggressive nature and how they commanded the rest of the players."
Fairley is the lone returning player on the outside coming off of a breakout junior season. The Charlotte, N.C. native ranked fifth on the roster with 200 kills in 103 sets played. She notched a pair of double-doubles a season ago including 11 kills and 11 digs in her hometown on October 17 at Queens.
"It was great last year getting to play a little bit more," Fairley said. "It helped me gain so much confidence playing all the way around having a great team and having a great season."
A transfer from Mercer, Molly Locke brings a wealth of experience and accolades to the Eagles this season. In her three seasons at Mercer, Locke compiled 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. She finished second in the SOCON with a 3.49 kills per set average while ranking third with 3.95 points per set.
Freshman Cecily Clark (Cincinnati, Ohio) provides an explosive and dynamic outside hitter to the group. A 2014 AVCA Under Armour watch list nominee, Clark comes from a bloodline that saw her father, Vinnie Clark, be selected 19th overall in the 1991 NFL Draft.
Gabbi Paccatte (Clarence, N.Y.), a freshman, will look for playing time also coming from an athletic family. Her mother played softball at Tampa and her father played football at Troy State.
"It's great having Molly out there with us," Fairley said. "She brings leadership coming from a school where she played the past three years. The two freshman coming in are very aggressive and we are going to have a great a team of outsides."
The position previews finish August 27 with senior libero Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.) with a look at the liberos.
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