VIDEO: Ashley Tiernan breaks down the 2023 signing class
JEFFRSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Volleyball officially welcomes the addition of five student-athletes, announced by head coach Ashley Tiernan bringing in four freshman and one graduate transfer to complete her roster for the 2023 Fall volleyball season.
"We looked for quality and we looked for athletes who were coachable." says Tiernan, regarding her incoming class "We really truly feel like we got that this year."
After the graduation of starting setter Abbey Hildenbrand and starting libero Hayden Barton, Tiernan looks to fill in the gaps left behind.
The four incoming freshmen are Kara Brantley and Blair Cherry from Knoxville, Tenn., Trinity Hafey from Grand Junction, Colorado, and Madilyn Pardue from Kernersville, N.C. The singular transfer athlete, Madison Fisher (Port St. Joe, Florida), comes to Carson-Newman from the University of West Alabama.
Kara Brantley – Libero/Defensive Specialist
Knoxville, Tennessee native Brantley joins the program after a noteworthy high school career. At West High School, she accumulated over 1,000 career digs piling on one MVP, four all-tournament, two defensive player of the year, and one rookie of the year merits. In 2021 she helped the Rebels find their District Championship title. Academically, she was a member of the National Honor Society.
Blair Cherry – Setter
Cherry joins the program after leading the region in career aces, accumulating 191 in her high school career. She also racked up 659 career kills and 864 career digs. The setter from Knoxville has a decorative list of personal and team honors from her time at Knoxville Catholic High School. She was a four-time all-region pick, making first-team all-region her sophomore, junior and senior year, on top of a first-team all-state and first team 5StarPreps pick her junior and senior year. Cherry helped her team collect a regional championship in 2021 and 2022 and a state championship in 2022. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the 30+ ACT club. Her father, Brooks Cherry, played baseball at Freed Hardeman. Her sister, Blake Cherry is also a Carson-Newman volleyball athlete.
Madison Fisher – Outside Hitter
Transferring from the University of West Alabama, Fisher comes to Carson-Newman after recording 63 games as a Tiger and racking up 420 kills, 412 digs, and 59 service aces in her career. She made the 2020 Panhandle first-team all-conference, the FCSAA all academic first team from 2019-2020, the GSC from 2020-2022. She was also named UWA's scholar athlete in 2022. At Belleview High School she set the school record for kills in a season at 533 kills and the record for kills in a match at 32 kills. She recorded 1,115 career kills in high school. She was twice named AVCA Florida high school player of the week and was awarded with an MVP accolade.
Trinity Hafey - Libero/Defensive Specialist
At Fruita Monument High School Hafey participated in volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track being named MVP and first-team all-conference all four years. As team captain, she recorded 1,400 career digs, 1657 serve receives, 90 aces and helped guide her team to two league titles. In the classroom, she was a member of National Honor Society, lettered all four years of high school, and earned a spot on first team academic all-state. Her father Corey Hafey and brother Christian both played baseball at Colorado Mesa. Her sister, Truth Hafey plays beach volleyball for Carson-Newman.
Madilyn Pardue – Setter
Pardue comes to Mossy Creek from Kernersville, N.C after obtaining a school record for career assists with 2,130 in the books. While playing at East Forsyth High school, she also recorded 546 career digs, was named team captain, and made all conference teams in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Academically, she collected honors from the National Honor Society, Rotary Club, and Social Study's Honor Society before graduating top ten in her class.
