PENSACOLA, Fla. – 23rd-ranked West Florida captured a straight set, 25-14, 25-15 and 25-21, victory Friday afternoon at UWF Field House as Carson-Newman wrapped up play in the Hampton Inn-Vitational in its first weekend of action in 2016.
"It was a tough weekend," Carson-Newman coach Dave Franklin said. "There are lessons to be learned from all of our matches that we can apply as we enter conference play next weekend."
Carson-Newman (0-4) is winless in its first four matches for the first time since in program history after losing to four ranked teams to start the 2016 campaign.
West Florida (2-1) picks up a victory in the second match ever between the two schools to even the all-time series at one after C-N won in four sets in 2003.
The Argos led wire-to-wire in the initial stanza of the day jumping out to a 7-1 advantage. The Eagles climbed backed into the set after a kill from sophomore middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) made it a 12-6 contest. The rest of the set went back-and-forth before a kill from Cora Bidlack put the home team ahead 1-0.
Once again in the second set, West Florida raced out of the gates taking an 8-3 edge early. Despite pulling with five points on a pair of occasions, Carson-Newman saw its opponent win seven of 10 points late to win 25-15 and go ahead 2-0.
The third set saw three ties and two lead changes as the Eagles held a lead as late as 11-10. The Argos used an 8-1 spurt to extend a one-point lead to 20-14. C-N closed within two at 23-21 before back-to-back errors gave the match to West Florida.
Carson-Newman hit .050 with 43 digs, four total blocks and three service aces while West Florida hit .235 with 54 digs, nine blocks and seven service aces.
Harris led the offensive attack for the Eagles as the sophomore piled up six kills and two total blocks. Senior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) paced all players with 19 digs.
The Argos saw Kathryn Torre rack up seven kills and a .278 hitting percentage while Tori Martella had 18 digs and Monique StCyr dished out 15 assists.
Carson-Newman opens the doors to Holt Fieldhouse on Friday at 7 p.m. when Mars Hill comes to town for the first match of South Atlantic Conference action. The contest will be broadcast on cneagles.com/live beginning five minutes before the first serve.
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