MATCH NOTES

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman volleyball looks to bounce back in a big way in a road contest at Wingate, which received votes in the last coaches' poll.

Wingate (13-2, 5-1 SAC) entered this season as the projected favorites in the South Atlantic Conference and sit just a game back of Carson-Newman (11-4, 7-1 SAC) in the standings by virtue of playing two fewer matches. The Bulldogs are coming off a home sweep on Tuesday in a win over Coker after surviving a scare from non-conference foe Flagler last Friday, eventually taking the win in that contest 3-2.

The Bulldogs also appeared in the receiving votes category in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll released on Monday nights. They're accompanied by a fellow SAC school in Lenoir-Rhyne.

On similar season trajectories, the Eagles and Bulldogs finally clash on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. inside Cuddy Arena in Wingate, N.C.

Both Wingate and Carson-Newman have suffered just one in-conference loss, both of which were on the road at Lincoln Memorial. Wingate lost to the Railsplitters in five sets after nearly completing a reverse sweep before LMU held on. Carson-Newman fell to LMU in Harrogate in four sets on Wednesday after taking the first set in a backdoor sweep for the Splitters.

In the non-conference, the Bulldogs swept through the Coker Cobra Classic to open the season, including wins against Francis Marion and USC Aiken, two teams the Eagles also played. The Bulldogs then went 3-1 at the Outback Invitational, hosted by nationally ranked West Florida, who gave the 'Dogs their first loss of the season in five sets.

Wingate is 17-4 in sets against conference foes. Other than the loss to LMU, the Bulldogs have only dropped a road set at Lenoir-Rhyne and have not allowed a set to an SAC team inside Cuddy Arena.

Individually, the Bulldogs are led by Sydney Morland and Emily Johnson, both of whom have over 130 kills on the season. The top setter is Maya Van Heyst, who averages 6.73 assists per set for 370 on the year. Defensively, Maddie Hoffman wears the libero jersey with 5.07 digs per set, while Morland and Johnson combine upfront. Both lead the team in blocks, each with over 40 on the year.

The series has been dominated by Wingate, as the Bulldogs lead 56-16 all-time. The last Eagle win inside Cuddy Arena came in 2014, a season in which Carson-Newman went 20-2 in conference play and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Carson-Newman is looking to rebound after having its six-match winning streak and seven-match conference winning streak snapped on Wednesday night at the hands of LMU. The Eagles are led by sophomore setter Blair Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.), who leads the conference in assists and set a new career-high in digs on Wednesday night with 18 against the Railsplitters.

Maddie Hurst (Blaine, Tenn.) and Emerson Ahsmuhs (Placentia, Calif.) stand out for the Eagles as the top outsides, with Hurst doubling as a middle blocker. Additionally, Hurst ranks among the conference's best in hitting percentage with a mark over .300.

First-year head coach Cat Collins has been using a rotation at libero, switching between Bennett McCombs (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) and Trinity Hafey (Grand Junction, Colo.).

First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. inside Cuddy Arena in Wingate, N.C. Those not making the trip to Wingate can watch the game online with a subscription via FloSports. Fans can also follow along for free on X by following @CN_Eagles. To keep up to date with Carson-Newman volleyball follow us on social media @CN_Eagles on X and Instagram and Facebook by following Carson-Newman Athletics.