VIDEO: Dave Franklin Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The 2017 season for Carson-Newman sends the Eagles to Harrogate, Tenn. to participate in the Lincoln Memorial Tournament against King (Tenn.) Friday at 12:30 p.m., Lee on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Erskine on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
"Every day we have had new task-list items and key things for each player," Carson-Newman coach Dave Franklin said. "They know here are my keys to success. That is the goal. Can we grow in new areas and grow in a new environment? I'm hoping to see some of the things they have been working on come out in these matches so that we know we are going in the right direction. If we are able to execute those things we are in a position against good teams in regional matches to show us where we are at."
This weekend marks the fourth straight season that the Eagles open up the year away from home and first time since 2013 that C-N plays in the state of Tennessee to open the gates. The program has been to California, Michigan and Florida each of the last three years.
C-N is 14-11 in season openers all-time. Dating back to 2006, the Eagles have won nine of their last 11 lidlifters with the lone blemishes coming in a five-set loss to Francis Marion to begin the 2012 season and the 2016 season opener vs. second-ranked and defending national champion Wheeling Jesuit, a four-set loss in Pensacola, Fla.
In the six seasons the Eagles have qualified for the NCAA Playoffs, the program has won their opening game in each one of the years. The last time that Carson-Newman lost season openers in back-to-back years came in 2005 and 2006 falling to Lee in straight sets and Lander in four frames.
93 percent of the team's 1,229 total kills is back for more in 2017 while 92 percent of the assists accumulated are back. With Taylor Lowe's graduation, C-N is missing 56 percent of its digs piled up during the 2016 campaign.
10 of the 18 players on the roster have never suited up in a Carson-Newman uniform while 14 of the student-athletes are underclassmen.
"We have to pay attention to the team chemistry," Franklin stated. "Our returners have done a great job of welcoming and making sure that we are all intermingling and not segregating or anything of that sort. They have done an awesome job of that so our team chemistry and our team vibe has been really good."
King and Carson-Newman square off in volleyball for the first time since the 2013 season as the Tornado holds a 23-13 advantage through the first 36 meetings thanks to winning the first 19 matches the two schools ever played. On Sept. 13, 2013, King pulled out a four-set win powered by a .285 attack percentage.
The Tornado picked up a pair of first-place votes in the Conference Carolinas preseason poll after finishing fifth overall in 2016. The league's Freshman of the Year, Becca Huddleston, is back after registering 12 double-doubles with 242 kills and 292 digs. Junior outside hitter Cathy Scaniffe and senior libero Amy Serowski were all-conference picks a season ago as well.
For just the second time this millennium, Lee and Carson-Newman face each other on the court with the Flames besting the Eagles in straight stanzas in the 2005 season opener. Lee has won seven of the nine affairs with C-N winning in 1992 and 1993.
After going 15-15 last season, Lee needs to replace middle blocker Catherine Conley but returns two-time Gulf South Conference, Silvia Sartori, all-league selection who was third in kills per set with 3.48 and 2016 all-GSC pick Makayla Beebe, a libero, who was third in digs per set.
The Eagles will challenge Erskine for just the fourth time as C-N is undefeated and has dropped just one set since the first meeting in 2011. The last outing came in the Southeast Region semifinal match on Dec. 5, 2015 as the Eagles swept the Flying Fleet. Anna Patton produced a double-double with 37 assists and 12 digs while Natalie Harris hit .421 with 10 kills as one of three players in double figures.
Despite going 14-2 during the Conference Carolinas regular season portion of the schedule, Erskine was swept by Barton in the tournament championship match. The Flying Fleet need to replace Sami Harting, the team's leader in kills per set at 3.31, and each of the unit's top five kill producers.
The game will have live stats set up for fans to follow along over the weekend courtesy of the LMU athletics communications staff. Follow @CNathletics for updates during each contest.
