JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman began play in the South Atlantic Conference versus the Peach Belt Conference Crossover Friday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse by falling to Lander 21-25, 16-25 and 23-25.
Carson-Newman (2-14) had won three consecutive matches against members of the PBC while Lander picked up a victory over the Eagles for just the fourth time in 12 matches in the all-time series.
The opening frame saw the two sides swap leads four times and the score was tied on six occasions as the Eagles were limited to a .022 attack percentage. With the score tied at eight, Kendall Korte reeled off five straight points for Lander. C-N pulled within a point at 14-13 before Lander regained separation at 18-14. The Eagles pulled within a single digit once again at 19-18 before another surge from the visitors ended the first stanza.
Lander led wire-to-wire in the second set with just two ties. After falling behind by as many as seven points, C-N pulled within a deuce at 16-14. The Bearcats promptly responded with five unanswered points to gain the needed edge to close out the set.
The final frame featured 10 ties and four lead changes. Most of the ties were early in the set as Lander took a seven-point lead at 22-15. The Eagles battled off five match points before a kill from Khiani Kelly sealed the victory.
Carson-Newman finished the match with a .055 hitting percentage with 61 digs, seven blocks and four service aces. Lander wrapped up the contest with a .190 attack percentage, 82 digs, six service aces and five rejections.
Sophomore middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) led all players on the day with a season-high 12 kills on a .280 attack percentage. No one else on the roster tallied more than five kills.
Junior setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) finished with 21 assists and seven digs while senior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) piled up 24 digs.
Halle Dotson and Korte led the offense for the Bearcats with 10 kills each. Hannah McManus led all players with 29 digs coupled with six assists.
Carson-Newman wraps up play in day one of the SAC/PBC Crossover Friday at 4 p.m. against Augusta.
