JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Looking to solidify its postseason resume, Carson-Newman hosts three Peach Belt schools this weekend at Holt Fieldhouse in the South Atlantic Conference/PBC Crossover. The Eagles host Lander and Augusta on Friday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively before getting Georgia College on Saturday at 2 p.m.
"We need to play our game and do what we do best," Carson-Newman coach Ashley Tiernan said. "I tell my team to stay vanilla. I don't want to see chocolate, strawberries or sprinkles. If we can stay vanilla then we can beat anybody."
Carson-Newman (19-3) has won all seven home affairs on the year and is one of the 38 programs in the country to be undefeated on its home floor. With a seven-game winning streak in hand it is 34th-longest overall and sixth-best in the Southeast Region.
To open up the weekend the Eagles see Lander (15-7) for the seventh consecutive full season with C-N holding an 11-5 overall advantage in the series and a 7-2 mark in games played at Holt Fieldhouse. The Bearcats came out on top a year ago in a five-set thriller after trailing 2-1 in the contest as Christina Aguayo led all players with 23 kills hitting .283.
Coach Jeff Reynolds's team has dropped three of its last five games and holds a record of 4-5 in true matches versus an 11-2 mark in home and neutral affairs. The team has played two SAC clubs this year sweeping Newberry and losing in three to Anderson.
The Bearcats lead the Peach Belt in aces per set (2.09) and kills per set (12.60) while ranking second in hitting percentage (.179) and opponent's hitting percentage (.138). Katie Miller is 27th in the country with 3.95 kills per set and Patricia Pantoja ranks 16th in America with 5.32 digs per set.
Wrapping up day one, C-N squares off with Augusta (17-5) for the 17th meeting between the two programs with the Eagles leading 13-3 having won seven in a row in the series dropping seven total sets during that stretch since being swept on Sept. 13, 2014.
The Jaguars have won five in a row and two of the team's last three losses overall have required five sets. Like C-N, the club is 7-0 at home for the year but holds a 4-3 mark in away matches. The team is one of the stingiest in the country yielding a .121 opponent hitting percentage, good for ninth in the country. Augusta also ranks 11th in the nation with an 18.08 digs per set clip.
Six players average at least 1.50 kills per set for the year led by 3.24 from Jazmyn Wheeler. The junior has recorded double-digit kills in 11 straight matches and has two outings with at least smashes.
Rounding out the weekend, the Eagles face off with Georgia College (10-11, 6-4) in the fifth meeting between the clubs with C-N winning each of the last two after falling in the opening two contests between the clubs.
The Bobcats started the year 3-7 but is 7-4 since mid-September. Leading the league in blocks per set with a 2.46 margin, the team is 13th nationally anchored by Brooke Roberts who sits seventh in the country with a 1.29 average.
Three players rank in the top eight of the Peach Belt in digs per set led by Alanis Bernis posting 4.66 scoops per game. No player ranks in the top 10 in the conference in kills per set.
Fans can use their FloSports subscription or sign up for one to watch the every contest all season long. Follow along to @CN_Eagles on Twitter and Instagram for in-game updates.
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