CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - After splitting a pair of matches on day one of the Scenic City Showdown, Carson-Newman beach Volleyball (22-1) sees their 22-game winning streak end.
The Eagles began action on Friday with a matchup against Liberty University (3-2). The Eagles were able to grind out the win despite winning two of their three points in extra sets. Piper Halcrow became the fifth player on the roster to notch 20 individual wins this season.
Carson-Newman suffered their first loss in 349 days after their match against UT Martin. The loss marks the first time Carson-Newman has been shut out since a 4-0 loss to Concordia Irvine at the AVCA Small College Championships last season. UT Martin is currently riding an eight-game win streak despite starting the season 4-6.
Game One: C-N 3, Liberty 2
Ava Fountain and Abbey Hildenbrand competed against Cara Lecklider and Heather Forton in the two spot. The Eagles overcame the Flames 21-16 in the first set before cruising to a 21-13 second-set victory. Fountain and Hildenbrand have collected 22 wins as Carson-Newman's two pair, tying the team lead for most wins this season.
Julia Wheeler and McKenna Hall took on Taylor Arnold and Jill Kater in the four spot. Carson-Newman's duo won the first set 21-14 but dropped the second set 21-16. Wheeler and Hall were able to pull away in the third set to win 15-10. The win marked Wheeler and Hall's 22nd of the season.
Jenny Ille and Piper Halcrow rounded out the starting lineup in the five spot. The Eagles took on Abbie Luke and Emma Taylor. Carson-Newman's pair gained a massive advantage in the first set before winning 21-8. The Eagles lost momentum in the second, losing 21-15. Carson-Newman's duo was able to rediscover their form to win the third set 15-11. Ille and Halcrow are 10-1 as a pair this season.
Truth Hafey and Sierra Still lost in sets of 21-16 and 21-19 against Kaitlyn Holbrook and Lizzy Armstrong. The loss marks Carson-Newman's one pair's fourth of the season. Taylor Keeran and Mia Toribio dropped their matchup against Grace Cropper and Syd Metzker in sets of 21-19 and 21-15. Keeran and Toribio have a record of 11-4 this season.
The win over UT Martin marks Carson-Newman's fourth win over a Division-I school this season. Carson-Newman's 11 wins in March tie the program record for most wins in a month. The record was last month when the Eagles ended February 11-0.
Game Two: UT Martin 5, C-N 0
Still and Hafey competed against Logan Wallick and Dylan Mott. The Eagles lost in consecutive 21-17 sets.
Hildenbrand and Fountain lost their first matchup of the season when they lined up against Kambree Lucas and Olivia O'Keefe. The Eagles lost 21-10 and 21-12.
Toribio and Keeran captured Carson-Newman's only successful set in game two when they won the first set 21-17. The Eagles fell in the second set 21-11 before dropping the final set 15-12.
Ille and Halcrow competed in the most competitive set of the game when they took on Kayla Carrell and Kayla Bryant. The first set ended with the Nighthawks winning 21-19 before they pulled away in the second set 21-12.
The loss marks Carson-Newman's first of the season. The Eagles' 22 consecutive wins blows by the previous record of five set during the 2020 season.
The Eagles will hope to rally when they take on Eastern Kentucky (10-8) at 11:00 A.M. and Chattanooga (8-5) at 5:00 P.M.
For more information on Carson-Newman beach volleyball, visit cneagles.com or follow Carson-Newman athletics on social media.
