VIDEO: Ashley Tiernan Interview
VIDEO: Megan Oldenburger Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Erin Edwards and Megan Oldenburger combined for 30 kills to lead Carson-Newman to a four-set, 20-25, 25-19, 25-20 and 25-18, victory Saturday evening in the 2021 South Atlantic Conference season opener at Holt Fieldhouse.
"Those two have been around this program for so long they know what it takes to beat certain teams and how to get around a block," Carson-Newman coach Ashley Tiernan said. "We just made sure to tell them what shots were open and they went after it. They had that leadership and ability to do it since they have been doing it for so long for us."
Edwards ended the first match of the year with a dozen kills tallying a .276 hitting percentage adding four digs and four block assists. It was the 28th double-digit kill effort from the Midlothian, Va. native.
Oldenburger produced the 37th double-double of her career with 18 kills and 19 digs adding a pair of aces. The Cedar Rapids Iowa, native moved into the top 10 on the school's all-time digs list bringing her tally to 1,124.
"I think our bench did a really good job communicating what was open and what wasn't," Oldenburger said. "I think in my head I told myself to stay aggressive knowing that Catawba is up and down and an emotional team. For a lot of us knowing this is our last season for us seniors we gave it everything we have. With the season we had last year we are a bit of a target so that is really exciting since we have never really had that feeling before."
Taylor Rohr (Windsor, Colo.) tallied the 14th double-double of her career with 20 assists and 11 digs and Madison Rademacher (Broomfield, Colo.) added 21 assists and seven digs.
Carson-Newman (1-0, 1-0) tallied a .186 hitting percentage in the match behind 53 smashes. Freshmen added 17 kills led by seven from McKenna Hall (Bristol, Wisc.) adding nine digs in her debut. In her first match, Hayden Barton (Hixson, Tenn.) led the team with 19 digs adding an ace.
This is the fourth straight year and 13th in the last 15 that the Eagles have opened the year with a victory beating Catawba (0-1, 0-1) for the seventh straight meeting improving to 21-2 in set totals during that sequence.
1⃣8⃣ Kills from @oldenburgermeg
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) February 28, 2021
1⃣9⃣ Digs from @hbarton12
2⃣1⃣ Assists from @madi_rademacher
2⃣ blocks from @erinedwards31
✅ @CarsonNewmanVB win pic.twitter.com/iRD2OdPoqF
The teams traded points to the tune of eight ties in the first 24 rallies but with the Eagles ahead 12-10 after a 3-0 sequence, the Indians found a rhythm. Catawba scored five in a row and 11 of 14 to jump out 21-15 before settling on a 25-20 set one win. C-N committed eight attack errors with only seven kills in the first.
In the second set, Catawba used a 7-2 sequence to go ahead 11-10. It was quickly answered by a 5-0 segment by the Eagles. The Indians inched closer to trail by one at 18-17 only to see the home club rattle off six straight before a kill by Oldenburger evened the match at one.
Oldenburger and Edwards combined for 13 of the team's 18 kills in the third set leading the Eagles to a 25-20 win. Catawba led early with five ties culminating at 11 before C-N scored four straight and eight of 10 to go ahead 19-13. The Indians pulled within three once otherwise the Eagles coasted to a third set win.
Catawba won three of the first five rallies in the fourth only to see the Eagles rip off eight of nine and 18 of 26 to secure control at 20-11. A net violation from Jade Brooks ended the set and the match.
Arianna Colon led the visitors with 13 kills hitting .276 on the day as the outside hitter added two aces and 1.5 blocks. Brooks and Raytchelle Miranda added eight kills apiece. Claire Kellum dished out 33 assists adding eight digs. Malia Carr led all players with 20 scoops.
The Eagles continue their three-game homestand to start the year on Friday when Queens comes to town for a 7 p.m. first serve from Holt Fieldhosue. The match is slated to air on cneagles.com/live with video on the Eagle Sports Network.
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