GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The second-seeded Carson-Newman College Volleyball Team (21-8) took advantage of 13 team blocks as it defeated #7 Lenoir-Rhyne University (19-15), 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 27-29, 25-18), Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. With the victory, the Lady Eagles advance to take on the winner of the Newberry-Lincoln Memorial match on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

Down 7-5 in the first set, Carson-Newman scored five of the next six points to take an 11-7 lead. A five-point serving run by freshman libero Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) put the Lady Eagles up, 20-12, as they held on for the win. C-N boasted a .364 (14-2-33) hitting percentage in the first set compared to just .026 (10-9-39) for L-R.

Carson-Newman jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the second frame but the Bears would rally to tie it at six points apiece. Later in the set, the Lady Eagles went on a 9-3 run for their largest lead of the stanza at 20-12.

The third set saw Lenoir-Rhyne claw its way back into the match. The Bears tied the set at six, and led all the way until the Lady Eagles tied it at 16-all. Carson-Newman had match point with the score 24-22, but L-R scored three straight points to give themselves the advantage. C-N tied it up at 25, 26, and actually led 27-26, however the Bears prevailed as sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Cantu (Orlando, Fla.) registered two straight service aces to close the set.

Carson-Newman put the match away in the fourth period. The Lady Eagles led 4-0 out of the gate before extending their lead to six points (9-3). C-N held their comfortable lead for most of the set and with the win looming at 23-18, registered the final two points of the match for the win.

Carson-Newman was led offensively by senior middle Katie Troyer (Plain City, Ohio) as she posted 14 kills and added three blocks while senior outside hitter Jessica Schachleiter (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs. Sophomore right side hitter Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) led all players with eight blocks and added five kills and while freshman middle Jasmine Clark (Pelham, Ala.) had nine kills as well.

Senior Stephanie Cutter (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and junior Lara McDonald (Salem, Va.) split the setting duties for the Lady Eagles as they dished out 24 and 15 assists, respectively. Freshmen MacKenzie Tyree (Daleville, Va.) and Hayes had 17 and 16 digs, respectively, as well for the Lady Eagles.

Lenoir-Rhyne was paced by Cantu with 11 kills and sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Hill (Lexington, N.C.) with 10 kills as well. Seniors Kassi Henry (Denver, N.C.) and Jordan Ledford (Newton, N.C.) had eight kills each in the final match of their career as Bears. Freshman setter Meredith Lutz (Newton, N.C.) registered a double-double with a match-high 40 assists and 12 digs while senior defensive specialist Elizabeth Flattery (Sparta, N.C.) tie da match high with 17 digs.