HARROGATE, Tenn. - Looking for its best start to a season in 15 years, Carson-Newman returns to South Atlantic Conference action with a seven-match winning streak in hand on Tuesday night visiting Mary Mars Gym to face Lincoln Memorial at 6 p.m.
The Eagles are riding a seven-match winning streak that matches the end of the 2019 campaign when the unit rattled off seven straight triumphs en route to the SAC Tournament title and Southeast Region Championship. Earlier in 2019 from Oct. 5 to Oct. 22, the team recorded an eight-match string with the most recent nine-game stretch coming from Oct. 7 to Oct. 25, 2014. The longest winning streak in school history is 15 set by the 2002 team from Sept. 13 to Oct. 12.
Off to its best start since 2015 when the Eagles also opened 8-1, Carson-Newman is looking for its best record through the first 10 matches of the year since 2007 when the Orange and Blue rattled off 13 consecutive victories before suffering the first loss of the year.
Tuesday night will be the 55th time C-N has battled Lincoln Memorial trailing the series 32-22. However the Eagles have won each of the last five since being swept on Oct. 30, 2018. Under coach Ashley Tiernan, the club is 3-0 with a pair of five-set triumphs. While the program is 9-19 all-time in Harrogate, it has won each of the last three times and four of the last five overall when visiting the Railsplitters.
Christine Phillips was the named LMU's new head coach on April 26 bringing a wealth of experience to Harrogate. The two-time Big South Coach of the Year led Liberty to three NCAA Tournament appearances and most recently was the head coach at Gardner-Webb.
The Railsplitters also spent the opening weekend at Trevecca Nazarene beating King while falling to the other three opponents. Last weekend the team went to Owensboro, Ky. losing three of four including one to ninth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney while holding off Kentucky State in five sets.
Tuesday is the team's home opener and conference lidlifter after the team went 4-7 and 5-13 respectively in 2021. Lincoln Memorial has been swept in four of its last five at home dating back to last season with the lone win coming against Newberry in five frames on Oct. 30.
In terms of league ranks, the 'Splitters rank 12th in kills per set with 9.29 and attack percentage at .125. Through the first eight matches of the season, the team has racked up 153 attack errors while cresting a .200 or better percentage once being held to a .127 margin in six of the eight times onto the floor.
Only two players are averaging more than two kills per set with Kristen Moehring the club leader at 2.22. The junior is coming off of her best performance of the year with 18 kills and a .342 hitting clip against Kentucky State but has 42 kills and 25 attack misfires through her first seven matches of the year.
Fans can use their FloSports subscription or sign up for one to watch the match on Tuesday and every contest all season long.
- CN -
