NEWBERRY, S.C. – Carson-Newman volleyball served up a backdoor sweep after a conference road win at Newberry.
Carson-Newman (13-6, 9-2 SAC) snapped its three-match road skid with a convincing win over SAC opponent Newberry (4-10, 1-8 SAC) in four sets, dropping the first frame before taking the next three.
Four Eagles collected double-digit kills on the night, topped by Emerson Ahsmuhs (Placentia, Calif.) with 14. Blair Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.) served as the top setter on the night for the 19th straight match with 52 on Tuesday evening.
Defensively, Bennett McCombs (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) led the charge with 16 digs, while Maddie Hurst (Blaine, Tenn.) complimented her 12 kills with three solo blocks for 3.5 total blocks on the night.
"This team will always fight through everything." Carson-Newman volleyball head coach Cat Collins said.
"We just need to find our fire from the beginning and start stronger."
First Set (25-23, NEW) – The Wolves came out swinging hot arms, hitting .317 in the opening set. Kate Brown set the pace for Newberry collecting seven kills on 14 swings. Newberry took control of the set with a 10-0 run with Katy Morrison at the service line. Carson-Newman went on an 8-2 run of its own to bring the set within one at set point but Anna Hapner finished the job with a kill to put the home side up a set.
Second Set (27-25, C-N)—The Eagles came out with vengeance in the second set, hitting .370 themselves, highlighted by Hurst connecting on six of her seven attacks for a .857 percentage. Despite the strong statistical showing from C-N, it was the Wolves with two set points at 24-22 before the Eagles rattled off the next three points, pushing the frame over 25 points. Hurst and Blair Cherry earned back-to-back kills to put the set away after Newberry tied it at 25.
Third Set (25-23, C-N) – A back-and-forth set saw five ties and two lead changes as both sides struggled to find a solid rhythm. Emerson Ahsmuhs had a breakout frame with six kills. It was again Newberry with a late set lead at 23-21, but Carson-Newman found four consecutive points, the last three of which all from solo blocks from Maddie Hurst, to take the 2-1 set lead.
Fourth Set (25-18, C-N) – With its back against the wall, Newberry scratched and clawed, but it wasn't enough to overcome Carson-Newman's hot start to the set as the Eagles began the fourth frame with a 5-1 lead and never gave it up. The Eagles were aided by five service aces within the fourth set, with two each from Blair Cherry and McKenna Hall (Bristol, Wis.).
The Eagles set their sights on Lenoir-Rhyne, who visit Holt Fieldhouse on Friday evening. The Bears are riding high with only a single loss this season and were receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll. To keep up to date with Carson-Newman volleyball, follow us on social media @CN_Eagles on X or Instagram or Facebook at Carson-Newman Athletics.