VIDEO: Blair Cherry Interview

VIDEO: Emerson Ahsmuhs Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman volleyball has three honored in SAC All-Conference awards.

Maddie Hurst (Blaine, Tenn.), Emerson Ahsmuhs (Placentia, Calif.), and Blair Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.) have all been named to the All-SAC honoree list.

Hurst, also named the SAC Freshman of the Year, was the lone Eagle featured on the All-SAC First Team. Ahsmuhs and Cherry were featured on the All-SAC Second Team, while Ahsmuhs and Hurst were honored on the All-Freshman team.

It is the first time in two seasons that the Eagles have had multiple members honored by the SAC.

Hurst led Carson-Newman in blocks, points, and hitting percentage while placing second in kills, just one kill shy of the mark set by Ahsmuhs.

Ahsmuhs found her swing early, setting a career-high 22 kills in the Sept. 13 match against Francis Marion. In her freshman campaign, she was also named the SAC Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 28 after setting new career highs in hitting percentage in back-to-back matches against Newberry and Lenoir-Rhyne. She led Carson-Newman in kills with 293.

"It's truly an honor; I want to thank everyone who has supported me through this whole first season," Ahsmuhs said. "Coming in as a freshman, I was a little nervous when I first got here because I didn't know what to expect since I was a freshman, but getting to know everyone and everyone having my back, I'm so excited to [receive these honors]."

Cherry debuts as a SAC postseason honoree following a 1,013-assist season, averaging 9.83 assists per set. While being known as the Eagles' top setter, she also let her offense shine through, collecting 111 kills, highlighted by the Sept. 27 match at Tusculum, where she came just a kill shy of the first triple-double in program history. Her season was highlighted by her 17 double-doubles, ending the season with six in a row.

"It's just special, especially last year; not many of us were nominated, so it's just an honor this year," Cherry said. "We know we put so much work in, and just seeing it all payoff and being recognized for it, it's awesome."

Carson-Newman ended its first season under the direction of Cat Collins 16-11, 12-6 in the SAC, securing the five-seed at the SAC Volleyball tournament.

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