CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Carson-Newman beach volleyball (22-3) drops a pair of matchups in day two's action at the Scenic City Showdown on Apr. 1st. The Eagles lost 4-1 to Eastern Kentucky (13-9) and 3-2 to Chattanooga (10-7).
"This weekend, we played great competition that will prepare us for the rest of the season," head coach Cat Lind said. We had difficulty handling adversity, but I am confident we will grow and learn from it."
The Eagles have lost three in a row for the first time since last season when the Eagles lost their final three matches at the AVCA Small College Championships last year. Carson-Newman falls to 3-3 against Division-I opponents.
"We're going to praise the good things and learn from our errors," Lind said.
Game One: EKU 4, C-N 1
Julia Wheeler and McKenna Hall took on Arilyn Lee and Fonvielle in the four spot. The Eagles captured the first set 22-20, but the Colonels rallied to take the second set 21-10. Hall and Wheeler secured the tiebreaking set 18-16 to give Carson-Newman their only point of the match.
Truth Hafey and Sierra Still dropped their matchups in sets of 21-14 and 21-11. Ava Fountain and Abbey Hildenbrand dropped their second matchup of the season when they fell in 21-14, 21-18 sets.
Mia Toribio and Taylor Keeran lined up as Carson-Newman's three pair for the 16th time this season. The pair fell in sets of 21-15 and 21-13. Jenny Ille and Piper Halcrow dropped their set 21-13 and 21-14.
Game Two: UTC 3, C-N 2
Wheeler and Hall earned their 24th win when they lined up in the four spot against Halle Olson and Grace Frigaard. The Eagles won in sets of 21-16 and 21-7.
Ille and Halcrow remained in the five spot for the 13th time. The Eagles pair took down Madelina Myers-Osban and Kaye Gresham in sets of 21-16 and 21-14.
Toribio and Keeran lined up against Maddi Morris and Julia Davis in the three spot. The Eagles lost in sets of 21-14 and 22-20.
Hafey and Still won their first set against Neva Clark and Joy Outright, but the Mocs rallied in the second to win 21-13. Chattanooga completed the comeback with a 15-13 tiebreaking set.
Hildenbrand and Fountain dropped their third consecutive matchup despite starting the season 22-0. The Eagles duo ran away with the first set to win 21-9, but the Mocs resurged in the second to win 21-18. The Mocs squeezed out a 17-15 third-set victory to secure Chattanooga's victory.
The Eagles will play their final regular season matchup on Apr. 7th when they take on Catawba (12-10). Carson-Newman has yet to play an SAC school this season but was 9-2 against conference opponents last season.
For more information on Carson-Newman beach volleyball, visit cneagles.com or follow Carson-Newman athletics on social media.
