HARROGATE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman became the fourth school in South Atlantic Conference history to win 200 league matches by defeating Lincoln Memorial Tuesday evening at Mary Mars Gym 29-27, 18-25, 25-15, 21-25 and 15-11.
"What a fun war on the road with a rival!" Carson-Newman coach Dave Franklin exclaimed. "I'm very proud of our team's persistence and toughness tonight. A team effort pulled out a W for us tonight. Our performance from the service line tonight was crucial and the best I've seen in time here. With a hostile crowd, our bench was amazing showing selflessness. We are an extremely proud coaching staff and are looking forward to a big weekend ahead."
The victory allows the Eagles to join Wingate (323), Catawba (240) and Lenoir-Rhyne (211) in the 200-club. Carson-Newman (12-10, 7-7) picks up its fourth straight triumph while snapping a seven-match winning streak on Tuesdays. A sweep of Tusculum on Nov. 3, 2015 at Holt Fieldhouse marked the last conquest in a midweek effort.
The Railsplitters had won each of the last four meetings between the two programs as C-N had not won in Harrogate since Oct. 7, 2014.
The offense was paced by Marnie Streeter (Goldvein, Va.) as the sophomore posted her fourth double-double of the year with a team-leading 19 kills to go along with 12 digs. Megan Oldenburger (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) was not far behind with 17 smashes an 11 scoops.
Leading the specialists, Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) racked up a season-high 43 assists adding 11 digs. Morgan Ballard (Weaverville, N.C.) registered 25 digs and Hannah Robertson (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) added 11.
Despite 10 blocks from Lincoln Memorial (11-11, 6-8), C-N posted a .120 hitting clip with 76 digs, seven service aces and a trio of rejections.
With 10 ties and five lead changes, the opening set was the hottest contest of the five. The home unit opened up a three-point lead at 12-9 only to see the visitors reel off six of the next eight to go on top 16-14. The Railsplitters chipped at the deficit before taking a 24-23 edge. Streeter sandwiched kills between a kill from Alicia Kessler to even the score at 26. Oldenburger sealed the set a few rallies later with a smash.
Franklin's group took a 13-10 advantage in the second set before LMU used a 9-1 sequence to go on top by five. Streeter tallied a kill to close the gap to four, but it was the closest C-N could get the rest of the game as Kessler ended the set with a kill.
In the third stanza, the Eagles ripped off a .308 hitting clip while limiting the 'Splitters to a .057 margin. C-N raced out to an 8-0 lead with Oldenburger on serve. LMU chipped away but could not get closer than seven as Streeter closed out the game with a blast.
Carson-Newman committed 10 attack errors in the fourth set as Lincoln Memorial won the first six rallies of the game. The Eagles closed the gap to 8-6 before the Railsplitters pulled ahead 16-9. The deficit was cut to three at 23-20 before a service error by Ballard ended the frame to force a fifth set.
Four ties and four lead changes highlighted a frenetic fifth frame. A kill from Kessler allowed the teams to switch sides with LMU clinging to an 8-6 edge. The Eagles won the next six to go on top 12-8. It was a lead that held up as Oldenburger put the finishing touches on the historic night with a kill.
The Railsplitters racked up 96 digs as a team with six service aces. Kessler led all players in the match with a career-high 21 kills besting her previous high mark of 13. Lindsey Nartker had 12 kills, 20 digs and five assists.
Danielle Stachura handed out 27 assists with nine digs and her setter companion, Olivia Brock, dished out 23 and eight respectively. Erica Whiteaker kept pace with Ballard for the league lead in digs per set with 25.
To wrap up a three-match road trip the Eagles travel to the Tar Heel state this weekend as a meeting with Lenoir-Rhyne Friday night at 7 p.m. opens up play. The Bears Sports Network will have the broadcast with live updates on @CNathletics via Twitter.
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