VIDEO: Dave Franklin Interview

Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to get back into the win column in 2016, Carson-Newman takes its final road trip of September facing Coker Friday evening at 7 p.m. and challenging Wingate Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in South Atlantic Conference action.

"I think you go with the old adage of getting prepared for the next game," Carson-Newman volleyball coach Dave Franklin said. "We spend a lot of time talking about our side of the net. When you are off to the start that you are off to, it's controlling our side of the net first. Looking at the opponent we want the girls focused on doing what we need to do to win on our side of the net. We will approach each match the same. The opponent won't matter."

Carson-Newman (1-7, 1-3) has won all six matches against Coker (6-4, 0-4) since the series began in 2013 with Coker winning just two sets during that span.

The most recent meeting saw the Eagles prevail in four sets on Halloween 2015. Carson-Newman finished with 61 kills on a .213 hitting percentage, 74 digs, 11 service aces and four blocks while Coker had 33 kills hitting .085, 67 digs, six service aces and 9.5 blocks.

Junior setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) racked up a career-high at the time 54 assists, the most assists for a Carson-Newman setter since Kristen Pickett had 57 in a four-set victory over Anderson (S.C.) on November 7, 2014.

Christen Bragg had a double-double with 24 assists and 14 digs to lead Coker.

Coker has a combined record as a member of the conference as a four-year member of 2-68 having finished in last place each of the first three seasons. The most recent victory came on Oct. 2, 2015 versus Queens (N.C.) in four frames. The current SAC losing streak for the Cobras is 18 matches.

Through four league matches, the Cobras are 11th in the league in attack percentage as a team at .133. Bethany Prochnow is second in the league and 31st in the nation by averaging 1.14 blocks per set.

Wingate (12-0, 4-0) has the advantage in the all-time series history having won 43 of the 67 all-time meetings between the two schools including a season sweep in 2015.

In the contest at Cuddy Arena in 2015, the Bulldogs prevailed in five sets. Carson-Newman finished with a .222 attack percentage, 61 assists, 91 digs, eight service aces and five blocks versus Wingate's .240 clip, 57 assists, 99 digs, seven blocks and four service aces.

Sophomore middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) set a new career-high with 15 kills on a .419 attack percentage.

Patton finished with 49 assists and 14 digs while senior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) had a match-high 27 digs.

Wingate is one of nine remaining undefeated programs at the Division II level entering this weekend after being named the preseason favorite in the league.

The Bulldogs lead the conference in six separate statistical categories including hitting percentage (.236) and opponent attack percentage (.118).

After missing the final nine matches of 2015 with a knee injury, Abby Saehler is the team's leader and fourth in the SAC in kills per set with 3.45. Her 131 total kills on the year is the second-highest tally among league individuals.

Friday night's match will be broadcast from Coker here with live stats available here. Saturday's contest with Wingate has live stats available for fans that want to view them.

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