VIDEO: Middle Blockers Preview with Taylor Keeran

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Eagles bring in two new freshmen to round out the middle blocker position.

After four departures including Carson-Newman's two leaders in total blocks from last season, Skylor Weaver and Emmagrace Cobb, there is a new race for the top middle this season. Additional departures included Ella Gay and Jaelyn Sorenson.

Returning for the Eagles are Taylor Keeran (Marion, Ohio) and Grace Akard (Maryville, Tenn.). Keeran has led Carson-Newman in blocks for 27 matches throughout her career, including six such instances last season. Akard enters her third season in Mossy Creek, taking a redshirt season during her first year in Jefferson City.

"I've definitely had to step up, especially because we have freshmen middle and I'm the only upperclassmen" Keeran said.

Keeran has suited up for the Eagles for four seasons, including the Spring of 2021 season that occurred due to COVID-19. In that time she has collected 226 career blocks with just 45 of those coming last season playing behind Weaver and Cobb. The sky is the limit as she is the likely top middle heading into head coach Cat Collins's first campaign at the helm.

Two freshman newcomers will debut this season in Mossy Creek as well including Maddie Hurst of Blaine, Tenn. And Bella Cardello of Fountain Hills, Ariz.

"On the court they're studs. I'm excited to see what we'll do this season," Keeran said. "I'm loving the chance to get to lead them and show them the ways of how to do things.

Hurst, a two-time regional hitter of the year, out of Blaine joins the Eagles after leading her high school on both the volleyball and basketball courts. In her high school volleyball career she amassed over 1,200 kills and excelled in the classroom finishing in the top 10 percent of her graduating class.

Cardello makes the cross country journey from Arizona where she recorded 85 blocks her senior season in a title defense of Notre Dame Prep's 2022 state championship.

The middle blockers will get their first look at the floor on Sept. 6 at the Union Volleyball Classic in Jackson, Tenn. Carson-Newman begins its season against Missouri-St. Louis.