SALISBURY, N.C. - Earning a fifth straight sweep, Carson-Newman avenged a late season loss in 2021 at Catawba by taking down the Indians in straight sets, 25-13, 25-20 and 25-15, Saturday at Goodman Gym in South Atlantic Conference action.
"Our connections on the court struggled today but we managed to pull away with the win," Carson-Newman coach Ashley Tiernan said. "We know what we need to tighten up and will get back to it next week!"
Carson-Newman (15-2, 8-1) recorded its 15th win of the year in its 17th match, the fastest the team has reached 15 victories since 2007 when the unit also went 15-2. The Eagles tallied its fourth triumph in the last four visits to Catawba (3-11, 1-6).
The Orange and Blue recorded a fifth straight sweep, the longest streak by the program since tallying the same, five-match string from Sept. 1-8, 2007. It was the team's 10th straight set win by the club for the year.
No Eagle finished in double figures for kills with Taylor Adams (Covington, Ga.) leading the way with seven, matching a career high, while hitting .500. Emmagrace Cobb (Greensboro, N.C.) was flawless on 12 swings with six smashes and a pair of blocks.
Abbey Hildenbrand (Parker, Colo.) led the way with 13 assists adding six digs. Hayden Barton (Hixson, Tenn.) led the group with nine digs.
As a team, the Eagles finished with 13 service aces with five different players posting at least one led by four from McKenna Hall (Bristol, Wis.).
The @FoodCity Player of the Game for @CarsonNewmanVB's sweep goes to @taylor_cfr tallying a team-high seven kills. pic.twitter.com/vY2rPHFj6h
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) October 1, 2022
7️⃣ @taylor_cfr kills
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) October 1, 2022
9️⃣ @hbarton12 digs
1️⃣3️⃣ @abbeyh65 assists
2️⃣ @CobbEmmagrace blocks
�� Brooms again for @CarsonNewmanVB pic.twitter.com/zmffKGzOWr
In the first set, the Indians committed 10 attack errors as the Eagles needed just five kills to cruise in the opening game. With the score tied at five, the visitors used a 9-1 surge to take control of the first overall winning 20 of the final 28 points to go ahead 1-0 in the match.
The second stanza featured six ties and three lead changes and with the tally level at 17, the Eagles reeled off four in a row and eight of the final 11 to jump ahead 2-0 in the match.
Despite seven more ties in the third set, C-N turned a 10-all tied into a 20-12 lead thanks to a 10-2 burst. Blake Cherry (Cookeville, Tenn.) sealed the victory with an ace, her second in the final three rallies.
For the match, Catawba committed 22 attack errors with 20 kills, the first time an opponent hit negative this year and first since Oct. 29, 2021, a span of 22 games and 337 days.
Ashley Johnson led the way with seven kills, Christina Knotts had 14 assists and Kary Hales led all players with 10 scoops.
The Eagles return to Mossy Creek on Tuesday hosting Lincoln Memorial at 6 p.m. from Holt Fieldhouse. Broadcast coverage airs on FloSports with a subscription.
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