Franklin steps down, Tiernan takes over volleyball program

Franklin steps down, Tiernan takes over volleyball program

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Dave Franklin has stepped aside as Carson-Newman volleyball coach effective immediately due to personal reasons on Friday morning moving Ashley Tiernan to the Director of Volleyball role.

"We'd like to thank Dave for his service to the university over the last four seasons," Carson-Newman Director of Athletics Matt Pope said. "His passion for the sport of volleyball is unmatched. We wish him well at the next stop in his career."

Tiernan will oversee the indoor and beach programs taking on the leadership slot for the Eagles for the remainder of the season. A national search for either an indoor or beach coach will be conducted at the conclusion of the 2019 indoor volleyball campaign.

Franklin returned the Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in his second season at the helm in 2017 guiding the team a 17-15 overall record with the team dropping a five-set decision to Wingate in the opening round of the postseason.

In his tenure, Carson-Newman placed seven athletics on All-SAC rosters with Morgan Ballard (Weaverville, N.C.) taking home first-team laurels twice and being tabbed an all-region selection during her sophomore and junior seasons.

Despite a tough first year at Mossy Creek, Franklin guided the program to a 41-33 overall record in his final three years on the bench. The Orange and Blue earned home SAC Quarterfinal matches in each of the past two campaigns advancing to the SAC title match during the 2017 season. C-N s ended Anderson's 22-match winning streak in a five-set thriller at Holt Fieldhouse overcoming 2-0 to bounce the regular season champs in the semifinals.

Under his eye, Carson-Newman became the fourth school in South Atlantic Conference history to win 200 league matches by defeating Lincoln Memorial in five sets on Oct. 24 to join Wingate, Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne in the 200-club.

Tiernan assumes leadership in her first season with the Eagles after spending the last two years at Division III LeTourneau where she led five all-conference players including the 2018 American Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year.

The 2019 Eagles have proved to be one of the best nationally in blocks per set and service aces per set ranking 12th and 29th respectively in Division II in the categories. Opponents are hitting .112 against C-N and the Eagles are racking up 18.14 digs per set, both figures that are top 30 in America.

Carson-Newman is in action Friday afternoon against Georgia College at 1 p.m. in the first of a doubleheader at Holt Fieldhouse during the SAC versus Peach Belt Crossover that will produce four matches in two days for the program.

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