VIDEO: Dave Franklin Interview
Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The first South Atlantic Conference road trip of the 2016 season sees Carson-Newman cruise through South Carolina to face Anderson (S.C.) Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Newberry Saturday at 2 p.m.
"These road trips are a little shorter," Carson-Newman coach Dave Franklin said. "We are sticking to our normal routine of preparation. I think that will keep it calm for them and keep them feeling like it's just another match which it was it is even though it's on the road.
"Judging by what's happened early in the conference, anything [can happen]. It's a conference right now that from top-to-bottom, anybody can beat anybody on any given night. It's something we have been talking to the girls a little bit about. They showed themselves what they can bring from a competitive standpoint and compete."
Carson-Newman (1-5, 1-1) has won each of the last three meetings against Anderson (5-4, 2-0) and holds an 11-8 advantage in the all-time series. The last contest came on Anderson's home court in the opening game of the 2015 SAC Volleyball Championships as C-N survived 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 31-29 and 15-13 after facing five match points in the fourth set.
Anna Patton finished with a career-high 61 assists becoming the first Carson-Newman player with at least 60 assists since Kari Gibson had 62 at Lincoln Memorial on October 17, 2006. She also had 14 digs and a career-high 5.5 total blocks.
Anderson was led by Marissa Mitter's 29 kills on a .288 attack percentage coupled with 15 digs. The 29 kills tied former Carson-Newman player Carly Mozgai's SAC Tournament record for kills in a match. The total is good for the eighth-highest total in any SAC contest.
Saturday is the 51st all-time meeting between C-N and Newberry with the Eagles holding full control of the series 43-7 including wins in four straight meetings.
The last time the two schools met was in the Palmetto State winning in four sets. Carson-Newman tallied 56 kills on a .242 attack percentage with 74 digs, seven service aces and six blocks while Newberry (3-6, 0-1) finished with 47 kills while hitting .192 with 60 digs, 11 blocks and three service aces.
Anderson sports a pair of preseason all-conference picks in first-teamer Serena Jackson, fourth in the league hitting percentage at .342, and second-team pick Marissa Mitter who is second in the SAC in kills per set with 3.71 and total smashes with 115.
The Trojans are tops in the conference in service aces with 58 and fourth in attack percentage with a .207 mark.
Newberry's Logan Hayward was a preseason second-team all-conference pick and ranks fourth in the league in total kills with 107.
The block has not been a weapon as the Wolves rank third from the bottom with just 1.24 rejections per set on the year.
Friday night's match will have video and live stats available for fans while Newberry provides a live broadcast and stats. Be sure to follow @CNathletics and @CarsonNewmanVB for the latest information regarding the volleyball program.
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