VIDEO: Match Highlights

VIDEO: Dan Ahiers Interview

VIDEO: Gabbi Pacatte Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the third straight match the Carson-Newman Eagles (5-1, 2-0 South Atlantic Conference) earned a sweep. Saturday evening at Holt Fieldhouse the Eagles defeated the Brevard Tornados (1-5, 0-2 SAC) 25-23, 25-20 and 25-12 improving to 18-0 all-time against Brevard.

"Our sideout percentages are great," Carson-Newman coach Dan Ahiers said. "Our serve receive defense is really good. [Anna] Patton is doing a great job finding our hitters especially on serve receive. Defensively I think we are still working on communication issues. That's why we aren't getting as good of swings at times."

The opening set saw 10 ties and four lead changes as the two sides exchanged punches. The Eagles outhit the Tornados .255 to .227 in the stanza. Carson-Newman's largest lead was three points at 14-11, but Brevard stormed back to a 16-15 contest prompting a timeout. A kill by Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) gave the Eagles just their second two-point the rest of the way to close out the set.

Carson-Newman controlled the second set at the outset jumping out to an 11-6 advantage. Brevard slowly chipped away before pulling within a single point on two occasions including 21-20. After a Carson-Newman timeout, the Eagles reeled off the final four points capped by a pair of kills by senior outside hitter Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.).

As was the case in Friday's contest, the Eagles surged out of the locker room winning six of the first seven points. Carson-Newman led by as many as 12 points at 22-10 with an attack error by Brevard's Kindle Kirkham sealing the match victory at 25-12.

The Eagles outhit the Tornados .264 to .089 in the match while the home team had seven total blocks, four service aces and 50 digs.

"When we were up at Grand Valley State," Ahiers said. "We set our outsides way, way too much. We are now becoming a much more balanced team. Everybody is getting involved offensively. It makes it tough for opponents to key on one hitter."

Sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) fell a dig shy of a double-double with nine 23 assists, nine digs and a career-high five kills.

Fairley finished with a match-high nine kills and eight digs while freshman outside hitter Gabbi Pacatte (Clarence, N.Y.) matched a career-high with six kills on a .286 hitting percentage to go along with four digs and two block assists.

"They are great players," Pacatte said of Fairley and Locke. "Molly swings at everything and knows where to place the ball. Sara is positive on the court. She really helps the team. They have helped us all get better."

Nine kills and seven digs from Fatima Gharachorloo and 20 assists and eight digs from Erin Barr led Brevard in the match.

Carson-Newman continues league play with matches at Catawba Friday night at 7 p.m. and at Queens (N.C.) Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

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