JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – When Carson-Newman and Tusculum squared off in the South Atlantic Conference opener on Aug. 30, the Eagles prevailed in a five-set classic. The Orange and Blue hosts the Pioneers on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
Carson-Newman (18-3, 11-2) is closing in on its 12th 20-win season in program history and fourth in the last nine years. In each of the last three 20-win campaigns, the club has won at least 27 matches. With eight matches to go in the regular season, the club has its sights set on a seventh 25-win year.
Under coach Ashley Tiernan, the Eagles are 10-3 against fellow Tennessee programs with all three of the setbacks coming in five frames including a pair to Tusculum (8-8, 8-5).
Tuesday night is the 67th meeting between the two teams separated by less than an hour. The Pioneers hold a 35-31 edge and a one-game lead in affairs played at Holt Fieldhouse, 16-15.
When the teams faced off in that August affair, C-N was down 2-0 in the match and faced two match points in the fifth before winning 16-14 to seal a five-set victory in the league opener. The Eagles had been 0-11 under Tiernan when trailing 2-0 in the match as it won for the first time since Oct. 7, 2016 at Brevard when needing to win the final three sets to seal victory in the match snapping a string of 34 consecutive affairs without a comeback victory.
After starting the year 0-5, Tusculum has won eight of its last 11 matches falling to Wingate, Mars Hill and Anderson, three teams above the Pioneers in the standings. Overall, three of the teams losses have come in five sets while five of the wins have been sweeps.
Tusculum is fifth in the conference in kills per set with 12.64 ranking fourth with a .212 hitting percentage. In the team's eight wins, the club has a .280 hitting margin versus a .160 efficiency tally in the eight setbacks. It has also been more effective on the road with a .232 margin versus a .197 mark at home.
Emiah Burrowes, the reigning SAC Player of the Year and All-American, is third in the league with 3.56 kills per set. She has 10 outings of at least 10 kills including three with 23 or more. However, Burrowes has been held to single digits six times. She has made 15 total errors in the team's wins.
Carli Pigza is second on the roster with 2.61 kills per set hitting .227 with over 800 smashes for her career. The right side has double digits in seven matches for the year and three of the past five.
Carly Sosnowski is second in the conference and 17th nationally with 5.32 digs per set with seven affairs of at least 20 scoops. She racked up 41 digs in a five-set match against Mars Hill on Sept. 6, the sixth-most by a player in Division II for the year.
Fans can use their FloSports subscription or sign up for one to watch the every contest all season long. Follow along to @CN_Eagles on Twitter and Instagram for in-game updates.
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