VIDEO: Dan Ahiers Interview

Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (25-5, 18-3 South Atlantic Conference) play host to the Mars Hill Lions (7-20, 5-15 SAC) Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse for a noon first serve to celebrate four seniors.

Outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.), libero Kristina Hill (Lake Orion, Mich.), outside hitter Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) and setter Lindsey Wells (Morristown, Tenn.) will play their final regular season home matches at Holt Fieldhouse.

"They have meant everything to me," Carson-Newman coach Dan Ahiers said. "Whenever a new coach comes into a program the upperclassmen have to buy in. They were juniors last year and the three of them really bought in. They really demanded as much as they possibly could from themselves and the classes below them. They are the reasons this program has been successful."

Fairley is a two-time SAC Player of the Week and has saved her best for her final year at Mossy Creek. After piling up 233 kills in her first three seasons, the Charlotte, N.C. native has 338 total kills, fourth-most in the league. Her seven double-doubles this season is third on the roster while she has tallied 16 matches with at least 10 kills and nine outings with at least 10 digs. Fairley is in the top-50 nationally in service aces and fourth in the SAC with 42. The outside hitter is on pace to conclude her career with 600 kills and 500 digs.

"When I first got here almost two years ago, Fairley was pretty athletic and did a lot of things," Ahiers said. "You could see that she wanted to work. You could see that she wanted to get better. They say true competitors want nothing but to get better. That's all she had on her mind. She committed two summers in-a-row to making herself better."

Hill has played nearly 300 sets and will play in her 110^th game on Saturday. The libero has been consistent in the back row since arriving at Mossy Creek notching eight career outings with 10 digs or more. Her career-high in digs came at Mars Hill on October 14, 2014 when she had 24 scoops. The Lake Orion, Mich. native has three matches in her career with four service aces, her career-high.

"She's done everything," Ahiers said. "She's our yoga instructor. In the offseason she took classes and did more to make sure she was ready. She makes sure that physically this team is ready."

Locke is the lone three-time SAC Player of the Week this season ranking second in the league in total points and total kills with 404.5 and 352 respectively. The Mercer transfer has made the most of her lone season at Carson-Newman with a team-leading 13 double-doubles, 22 matches with at least 10 kills and 14 contests with at least 10 digs. Locke has failed to crest double-digits in kills just one time in her last 18 matches tallying nine in that lone contest.

"It's going to be really exciting," Locke said. "What has Dan has always told me since I got here is that it's not about the wins and losses, it's about the experience. Playing next to the other three seniors and playing next to this team is going to be really exciting playing for the last time on this home court. It will have been a season to remember for sure."

Wells has been a part of 83 matches in her career piling up over 225 assists and 150 digs over her four years as an Eagle. Spending time at setter and libero during her career, the local hero set a career-high in assists on November 14, 2013 with 15 and a career-high in digs on November 7, 2014 with 10 against Anderson (S.C.).

"She is a nursing major here," Ahiers said. "She is incredible. She gets fantastic grades, helps the other kids on the team with their grades. With such a demanding schedule, she goes from about 5 a.m. until after we are done with practice at 5-6:30 [p.m.]. I have no idea how she gets it all done. She is exactly what people to be like when they come in and be a part of our program."

Carson-Newman has won four straight meetings with Mars Hill and holds a 36-20 advantage in the all-time series history. Carson-Newman held Mars Hill to a -.023 attack percentage (24-27-132) in a sweep on October 20 at Stanford Arena. The attack percentage is the lowest by a Carson-Newman opponent since September 24, 2010 when Newberry hit -.045.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Borch (Walnut Creek, Calif.) led all players with 13 kills on the night with a .440 attack percentage combined with three block assists. Fairley finished with her sixth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 10 digs.

Sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) had her ninth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 10 digs to go along with two solo blocks and two block assists.

Mars Hill did not see one player finish in double-digits in kills as Butler's eight led the way coupled with 12 digs. Victoria Kaiser had 20 digs and Sara Fahrenbrook had 20 assists and nine digs.

The game will be available through a video stream by visiting cneagles.com/live while live stats can be found here. 

- CN -