ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman senior outside hitter Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) was named the Astroturf South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week after helping the Eagles to a 3-1 record in their first weekend of action. The weekend marked for the first action in a Carson-Newman uniform for Locke, a transfer from Mercer.
"We have really big shoes to fill," Locke said. "I wasn't here last year, but from what everyone says we had big leaders and those are legacies that will be left forever. We all want to get those awards. We all want to play that well and be looked up to."
The senior made a huge impact in her first game, a five-set victory over the Quincy Hawks. Locke finished with a match-high 27 kills and 20 digs, one of two double-doubles over the weekend. The College Grove, Tenn. native became the first Carson-Newman player to record a match with 20 kills and 20 digs since assistant coach Rachel Harper had 22 kills and 25 digs in a five-set match against Newberry on October 19, 2012. She also became the first player with 25 or more kills since Carly Mozgai had 29 at Catawba on November 12, 2010.
"I have really high standards," Locke said. "Not only for myself but for this team and this entire year. I know a lot of people left last year leaving big holes and there are big shoes to fill. I'm ready for us to make our own mark. I really think after this weekend as a player and as a team we can reach those."
On Saturday, Locke piled up 12 kills and 26 digs in a four-set victory over Lock Haven before concluding with 11 kills and a .269 attack percentage in a sweep of Bemidji State.
Overall, the outside hitter averaged 3.71 kills per set racking up 52 kills on a .222 attack percentage to go along with 55 digs and four service aces. Her kills per set average ranks second in the SAC after a weekend of action while her 52 kills are fourth.
In 2014, Carson-Newman took home six of the 10 weekly honors awarded by the league.
Locke will make her Holt Fieldhouse debut Friday night as SAC opponent Lenoir-Rhyne comes to town for a 7 p.m. first serve to begin league play. Video and live stats for the match can be found by visiting cneagles.com/live courtesy of the Eagle Sports Network.
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