Interview: Head Coach Ashley Tiernan

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.— Carson-Newman will play in six tournaments throughout this 2020 beach volleyball season. Head Coach Ashley Tiernan released the Eagles' slate of match-ups for the upcoming season. 

"We've been really competitive this year, both in the off-season in the fall and in season, now, in the spring," said Head Beach Volleyball Coach Ashley Tiernan. "From what I've gathered from the previous years and the team we have in place right now, I'm not worried about any opponent that we meet. We have a really high competitive group coming in right now and I'm really excited about it.." 

The Blue and Orange will only participate in six tournaments over the course of the season, all of which will be on the road except one. The Eagles will only host one tournament this season. 

The Sand Eagles will begin their road journey at the Principia College Tournament on February 28^th and 29^th in Elsah, Ill. The following weekend they will travel further down south to LaGrange, Georgia to participate in a four game tournament at LaGrange College. They will face LaGrange College and another rival, Lincoln Memorial University.

The only home slate will take place on Saturday, March 18^th and Sunday, March 19^th against cross town rival, Tusculum University, and a new opponent to the program, Spartanburg Community College.

Catawba College will host the first ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament on April 10^th and 11^th. There the Eagles will face the other three South Atlantic Conference schools with existing beach programs. 

The Eagles will travel a total of 4,202 miles, extending to states outside of the surrounding area. They plan to round out their season at the Small College Beach Championships in Tavares, Fla.

Head Coach Ashley Tiernan will be missing the majority of 2020 Beach season due to maternity leave. Graduate Assistant, Lucy Pennington-Russell will step in as the head of the program from now until the end of the season in April.

"We are in the process of hiring a head beach coach to take over," said Tiernan. "Whether that person can come in soon, or in the summer or fall, but we are interviewing at the moment. Other than that, I have an awesome graduate assistant who is stepping into my shoes very well." 

Follow the Carson-Newman Beach Volleyball team online at cneagles.com. First serve is at 11AM eastern standard time against Bryant Stratton College at the Principia College Tournament.