JACKSON, Tenn. – Julia Wheeler finished with a match-high 14 kills and Abbey Hildenbrand stuffed the stats to lead Carson-Newman to a sweep of Southern Arkansas Saturday morning at Fred Delay Gym in the Union Tournament.
Wheeler was the only player in the match to finish with double-digit kills hitting .333 while leading the team with nine digs. Hildenbrand dished out 23 assists adding a team-high three blocks and three kills.
Erin Edwards (Midlothian, Va.) racked up eight kills hitting .312 and Taylor Keeran (Gailon, Ohio) piled up seven smashes on an efficient .417 hitting clip.
Carson-Newman (5-5) produced a .278 hitting percentage with 42 kills, 36 digs, 12 aces and six blocks versus Southern Arkansas (3-7) tallying a .200 margin with 31 kills, 39 digs, six blocks and two aces.
Saturday morning was just the second meeting between the two programs of all time as the Eagles started a day with a sweep for the second day in a row.
�� Big day for @juliawheerr
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) September 18, 2021
�� @abbeyh65 does it all
✅ @CarsonNewmanVB starts its Saturday with a sweep. pic.twitter.com/UkRZ1rxVOj
Six of the 11 ties in the match came in the first frame with all three of the lead changes on the day. With the Eagles facing a 13-12 deficit, C-N won five in a row and pushed the margin out to 22-18 before the Muleriders pushed back within a point twice. Hildenbrand's block made it 1-0.
Once again in the second set it was tight at the beginning before a 6-2 sequence stretched the score out to 14-8. Southern Arkansas pulled close within three before the Eagles finished the final three rallies winning on a blast by Wheeler.
With the score tied at seven in the third, Carson-Newman won 11 of the next 14 points to take charge at 18-10 before Skylor Weaver (Katy, Texas) punctuated the day with a kill.
Morgan Schuster passed out 25 assists with six digs and Bailey Kirk was the only athlete to finish in double figures in digs with a dozen on the day. Three players posted six smashes to lead the crew in the category.
The Eagles wrap up their weekend of action taking on the host school, Union, at 5 p.m. this evening looking to tie a bow on the tournament.
- CN -
