VIDEO: Emory & Henry Cinematic

VIDEO: Ashley Tiernan Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - After a road heavy preseason, the Eagles will stay in Mossy Creek for the second home match this week to see the Tusculum Pioneers.

Between sets two and three, the girls will be hosting a stuffed animal toss to benefit the children at East Tennessee Childrens Hospital. To participate, be sure to bring a stuffed animal to donate to the cause.

Both Carson-Newman and Tusculum are currently undefeated in SAC play this season. Both look to maintain that streak in the first matchup of the season between the Eagles and the Pioneers. 

"You expect that team to also be disciplined on the court. Volleyball is a game of mistakes, you hear every coach say that. So if we can minimize some of the big mistakes that we're making in big moments, no matter who our opponent is in front of us we'll do some big things. We know what they have offensively and defensively so if we can execute our game it's gonna be a really close match and will be really fun to watch." from head coach Ashley Tiernan. 

The Pioneers are off to a 7-3 start in the first 10 matches of their season. They went 2-1 in the Erskine Tournament at the beginning of September, then saw their first two SAC matchups of the year, defeating UVA Wise and Emory & Henry 3-1 apiece. At the Rollins Invitational, they split for a 2-2 weekend. Tusulum's most recent SAC victory came over Coker and ended as a three set sweep over the Cobras. 

The Eagles and the Pioneers met three times in 2022, the most in one season since 2017. At their first meeting in Greenville, Tenn. the match was taken to five sets. After dropping the first two sets to Tusculum 13-25 and 21-25, C-N came back and claimed the final three sets for the victory in the Pioneer Arena. Meeting two of last season went simpler for the Eagles, only dropping the first set before snatching three sets in a row. Carson-Newman and Tusculum's final matchup last season took place in the SAC tournament in November. Again, the Eagles started with a 1-0 deficit, kicked into gear, then left the Pioneers in their rearview, claiming the match 3-1. 

Tusculum was picked to finish fifth in this years SAC preseason poll with a score of 100 and no first place votes. Emiah Burrowes was named to the all-SAC preseason first-team, alongside Martina Foster, named to the second-team. Burrowes is a force on the outside with a number of accolades under her name. Honored as an AVCA All-American in 2021, Burrowes has acquired over 1,000 career kills over her five seasons at Tusculum with a 3.27 efficiency rate. Tusculum is led in assists by Madison Adkins, averaging 6.10 assists per set. Outside hitter Aly Freeland and Libero/DS Caley Sosnowski both lead their crew in digs on the season, collectively gatherign 195 this season.

Tip off between the Eagles and the Pioneers will begin at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, Sept. 15. As always, fans can watch at cneagles.com/flovb or follow along with livestats at cneagles.com/livestats.