MATCH NOTES

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman returns home to take on Emory & Henry in a battle between the top and bottom of the South Atlantic Conference standings.

Carson-Newman (15-6, 11-2 SAC) has won its last four SAC contests and takes on Emory & Henry (4-17, 1-11) in a rematch of a mid-September bout on the road.

Emory & Henry has struggled this season but has won two of its last five matches. Those wins came against Elizabeth City State in straight sets on a neutral court before the Wasps earned their lone conference win of the year so far in five sets on the road against Coker. The Wasps have not had a losing streak of longer than six matches.

Fifth-year outside Brianna Hogan leads the Wasps in kills with 163 for 2.40 per set, while junior setter Logan Newberry leads in assists with 287 for 5.13 per set. Defensively, E&H has turned to fifth-year Libby Bickelhaupt at libero. She has turned in 367 digs, averaging just over five per set. Up front, the dangerous duo of Gracyn Miller and Haley Harnichar each have over 40 blocks during the season.

Carson-Newman has never lost to Emory & Henry in five meetings, including a match in mid-September from the home of the Wasps, where the Eagles won in straight sets for their first sweep of the season. The Eagles have never dropped a set at home against E&H.

Carson-Newman volleyball has already surpassed its win total from last season of 14 after an upset win over the top-ranked team in the SAC, Lenoir-Rhyne, in straight sets to tie last season's total before surpassing it in a four-set road win at UVA Wise.

Freshman outside Emerson Ahsmuhs has impressed the past week, setting new career-highs in hitting percentage in back-to-back matches against Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne, hitting over .400 on the week with over four kills per set en route to being named the SAC's Offensive Player of the Week.

Sophomore Addie Smith made just her second appearance of the season against UVA Wise after being subbed in for Blair Cherry, who was dealing with an illness and instantly showed off by collecting a double-double. Blair's older sister Blake enters the match against E&H, 18 digs away from 1,000 in her career.

The Eagles celebrate Senior Night on Friday, honoring McKenna Hall, Taylor Adams, Bennett McCombs, Kylee Oldenburger, Taylor Keeran, Blake Cherry, and Cameron Batis.

First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. from Holt Fieldhouse, those planning on attending can get in for free if you are a Carson-Newman student or faculty member as well as anyone under the age of 18. Everyone else can get in the door for $5. Those following along from home can watch the match online via a subscription to FloSports or follow along for free on social media by following @CN_Eagles on X.

To keep up to date with Carson-Newman volleyball, follow us on social media @CN_Eagles on X and Instagram or Facebook at Carson-Newman Athletics.