NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After producing six matches with at least 20 kills in 2021, all-region selection Julia Wheeler opened the 2022 year with 22 to pace Carson-Newman's four-set win over Alabama Huntsville, 25-20, 25-23, 17-25 and 25-19, in the Trevecca Tournament at Trojan Fieldhouse on Friday.
Wheeler also posted a double-double after talling 14 a season ago adding 10 digs while hitting .255 for the Eagles. No other player on the roster tallied more than five for the day on the Eagles' side while Paris Morris led the Chargers with a dozen.
Carson-Newman (1-0) has won 14 of its last 17 season openers improving to 19-12 as a program in the yearly lidlifter. After going 1-5 in the first six meetings against Alabama Huntsville (0-1), the Orange and Blue earn their second win and first since 2002 in the series history.
Abbey Hildenbrand (Parker, Colo.) also produced a double-double after leading the team in 2021 finishing with 19 assists and a team-high 16 digs. Carlee Allbaugh (Tallahassee, Fla.) shined in her C-N debut with 22 assists and five digs. Blake Cherry (Cookeville, Tenn.) added 13 digs.
2️⃣2️⃣ kills by @juliawheerr
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) August 26, 2022
1️⃣6️⃣ digs by @abbeyh65
2️⃣2️⃣ assists by @AllbaughCarlee
1️⃣ block by @CobbEmmagrace
✅ Season opening win for @CarsonNewmanVB pic.twitter.com/hnefUDAE0H
It was a decisive start to the season for coach Ashley Tiernan's team won 12 of the first 14 points of the year with four coming on kills by Wheeler. While the Chargers chiseled the deficit to four, Wheeler put the finishing touches on the opening game with her ninth kill of the first set.
Set two featured seven ties and two lead changes as the teams shared points until it was level at 22. The Eagles scored three of the final four sealing the 2-0 lead in the match on an attack error by Kiara Hill.
In the third, UAH trailed 6-4 before winning five straight points to seize control. The Eagles made 11 attack errors and never put a big enough dent into the tally watching Gracie McGee extend the match with a kill.
Carson-Newman fell into an early 7-4 hole in the fourth and was down 13-11 before going on an 8-1 surge to capture control of the fourth and coast to victory with Cherry punctuating the opening of contest of the year with a kill.
Caroline Moyer added 10 kills for the Chargers with Shayla Libby leading all players with 19 digs. Colby Charland had 15 assists. The two teams combined for eight blocks in an affair that featured 21 ties and 10 lead changes.
The Eagles are back in action at 8 p.m. against Trevecca Nazarene. Follow along to @CN_Eagles on Twitter and Instagram for in-game updates with stats and video available on portal.stretchinternet.com/Trevecca.
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