JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman beach volleyball (21-0) shuts out Tennessee Tech (3-7) in consecutive 5-0 matches on Wednesday, Mar. 29th.
"We prepared for Tech for the last week," beach volleyball head coach Cat Lind said. "They're a highly athletic team with a great coaching staff, but all six of our pairs had great games today."
Ava Fountain, Abbey Hildenbrand, McKenna Hall, and Julia Wheeler surpass Morgan Siwiec's record of 20 individual wins in a season.
The Eagles defeated Tennessee Tech for the third time this season, marking the fourth Division I win for Cat Lind's squad. Carson-Newman ends their 2023 home campaign with a pair of wins to advance to 6-0 in home meetings. Lind has finished undefeated at home three seasons in a row.
"I am proud of the way these athletes compete and improve their games," Lind said. "We got our 20, now we are on to better things."
Game One: C-N 5, TTU 0
Sierra Still and Truth Hafey lined up as Carson-Newman's one pair for the 20th straight match. The pair took on Skylar Boom and Aleeya Jones in the one spot. Carson-Newman's duo won in sets of 21-13 and 21-10.
Ava Fountain and Abbey Hildenbrand took on Maodolyn Isringhausen and Bella Powell in the two spot. The Eagles won 21-14 and 23-21 to mark their 20th straight win.
Taylor Keeran and Mia Toribio faced off against Jordan Karlen and Brooke Amann in the three spot. The two sides were back and forth during the first set, but it was Keeran and Toribio who won the first set 22-20. The Eagles pulled away early in the second set to win 21-9.
McKenna Hall and Julia Wheeler competed against Morgan Gish and Mckenna Young in the four spot. Carson-Newman's duo won in sets of 22-20 and 21-16 to mark their 20th consecutive win.
Jenny Ille and Piper Halcrow lined up as Carson-Newman's five pair when they played against Jazmine Yamikoski and Olivia Taylor. The Eagles burst out the gate in the first set to win 21-11. The Eagles carried their momentum into the second to win 21-17.
Calla Shotwell and Kenzie Palmer split a pair of sets against Tennesse Tech's Emma Pabon and Katie Diraimondo in an exhibition match. The Eagles won the first set 21-18 but dropped the set 21-16.
Carson-Newman's game one victory marked their 20th of the win, which matches Lind's goal that she had set for this season back on Feb. 2nd.
Game Two: C-N 5, TTU 0
Hafey and Still remained in the one spot for the day's second matchup. Tennessee Tech moved Powell into the one spot to pair with Aleeya Jones. Carson-Newman's duo won the first set 21-16 before taking the second set 21-19. The win marks Still's 45th win.
Hildenbrand and Fountain competed against Skylar Boom and Jordan Karlen in the two spot. The first set ended in a 27-25 victory, marking the second-highest-scoring two-set matchup of the season. The first was Still and Hafey's 28-26 win against Morehead St. The Eagles won the second set 21-16.
Keeran and Toribio took on Isringhausen and Amann in the three spot. Carson-Newman's duo won the first set 21-14. The pair went on to win the second set 21-8, marking the largest score difference of the day.
Hall and Wheeler played against Gish and Young for the second game in a row. The Eagles won in sets of 22-20 and 21-16. Hall and Wheeler outscored Gish and Young 86-72 on the day.
Halcrow and Ille faced Yamikoski and Taylor in the five spot for the second game in a row. The Eagles won in sets of 21-19 and 21-18. Halcrow and Ille are 9-0 as a pair this season.
Shotwell and Palmer took on Pabon and Taylor in an exhibition match. The Eagles won in sets of 23-21 and 21-13. Carson-Newman is 7-1 in exhibition matches this season.
Carson-Newman returns to action in two days when they travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., to compete in the University of Chattanooga's Beach Volleyball Invitational. The Eagles will begin action on Friday with a matchup against Liberty at 1:00 P.M. before taking on UT Martin at 5:00 P.M. On Saturday, the Eagles will take on Eastern Kentucky at 11:00 A.M. before competing against the hosting UT at Chattanooga at 5:00 P.M.
For more information on Carson-Newman beach volleyball, visit cneagles.com or follow Carson-Newman athletics on social media.
