Final Box Score

HICKORY, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (16-3, 10-1 South Atlantic Conference) won the final seven points of the second set and the final 11 points of the third set to sweep the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (10-6, 9-3 SAC) 25-23, 25-14 and 25-23 Friday night at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

"Never a doubt!" Carson-Newman coach Dan Ahiers exclaimed. "With this team and these girls there isn't a doubt that we can accomplish anything we want. Tonight proves it. Really impressive that we can play five freshman still get that kind of cohesion on the court."

The first set was tightly contested as the largest lead for either side came at 18-15 for Carson-Newman on a kill from senior outside hitter Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.). Lenoir-Rhyne came back to take a 22-20 lead. With the Bears leading 23-22, the Eagles reeled off the final three points to take the opening set. Sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) had 13 assists and senior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) led all players with five kills in the first set.

With the Bears leading 4-2, the Eagles used a 7-1 run to take the lead for good on a service ace by Locke prompting a timeout from Lenoir-Rhyne. After the Bears cut the deficit to two points, an 8-3 run extended the Carson-Newman lead to 18-11. The Eagles won the final seven points of the set and hit .467 to go ahead 2-0 in the match.

The third frame looked like a lost cause for the Eagles as the home team surged out to an 18-7 advantage. Carson-Newman cut the Lenoir-Rhyne lead to 23-14 before reeling off the final 11 points of the match to sweep the Bears.

Overall on the night Carson-Newman hit .277 with six blocks and 52 digs while Lenoir-Rhyne hit .198 with eight blocks and 46 digs.

Patton piled up her eighth double-double of the season with 40 assists and 13 digs while Locke had her seventh of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs.

Fairley led all players in the match with 17 kills while hitting .333 in the contest to go along with six digs.

Junior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) moved into sole possession of fifth place on the program's dig list in the second stanza while finishing the match with 16 digs. Lowe passed Kendra Ricketersen in the contest and now has 1,282 scoops in her career.

Lenoir-Rhyne did not have one player finish in double figures in kills being led by nine from Brandi Thomas who did it efficiently hitting .444 on the night. Briana Gottberg chipped in 15 assists.

Carson-Newman travels to Brevard Saturday afternoon for a noon first serve against the Tornados, a team that the Eagles swept on September 12.

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