NEWBERRY, S.C. – In South Atlantic Conference play, Newberry picked up a sweep of Carson-Newman 25-14, 25-14 and 25-21 Saturday afternoon at Eleazer Arena.
"Players win, coaches lose," Carson-Newman coach Dave Franklin said. "I believe in that old adage. Our technique and fundamentals failed us for a second straight match and that is my role to the team. I have to get in the film room and identify the problems leading to poor fundamentals and train our athletes better.
"Our girls work hard. They compete even harder! If I can fulfill my duties to these young ladies, their goals are in reach. Four of 22 conference matches in, it's still early but those matches and opportunities will come and go quickly. I will improve our technique and help this season turn in a better direction."
Saturday marks the first time in 51 all-time meetings that Newberry (4-7, 1-2) collected a sweep against Carson-Newman (1-7, 1-3) as the Eagles have won 43 matches.
Freshman outside hitter Abbie McFarlane (McKinney, Texas) tallied four kills in the first frame but the Eagles hit .056 as a unit. Newberry won nine of the first 11 points of the match with the closest Carson-Newman would come the remainder of the set being six points as a kill by Madison Darby McClure capping a 1-0 lead.
The second stanza started off with each team trading punches to the tune of a 12-12 deadlock. 13 of the final 15 rallies favored the home as the Eagles made five unforced errors during that span to fall behind 0-2 in the contest.
The score was tied at 10 in the third set before the Wolves reeled off eight of the next 10 points to go ahead by six points. The Eagles pulled within four points on four occasions but could not get closer as a kill by Maggie Marsh closed out the game.
Newberry hit .299 as a unit with 42 digs, seven service aces and three total blocks while Carson-Newman notched a .125 hitting percentage with 38 digs, one service ace and four total blocks.
McFarlane led all players in the match with 10 kills while freshman outside hitter Marnie Streeter (Goldvein, Va.) added seven kills. Junior setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) handed out 28 assists and senior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) collected 14 digs.
Toni-Anne Whitlow paced the Wolves with nine kills. Preseason first-team All-SAC selection Logan Hayward added eight kills and a match-high 16 digs.
The Eagles head back on the road next Friday when they travel to Coker for a 7 p.m. match as part of a two-match weekend.
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