Carson-Newman Volleyball Defeats Tusculum, 3-2, In A Five-Set Thriller Tuesday In SAC Action
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman College Volleyball Team (14-7, 8-3 SAC) won a five-set thriller over Tusculum College (15-11, 6-6 SAC), 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 23-25, 25-13, 16-14), Tuesday evening at Pioneer Arena in South Atlantic Conference play. With the victory, the Lady Eagles sweep the season series with the Pioneers.
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman
College Volleyball Team (14-7, 8-3 SAC) won a five-set thriller
over Tusculum College (15-11, 6-6 SAC), 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 23-25,
25-13, 16-14), Tuesday evening at Pioneer Arena in South Atlantic
Conference play. With the victory, the Lady Eagles sweep the season
series with the Pioneers.
C-N picked up the win in the first set as it dominated TC
offensively. The Lady Eagles hit an impressive .406 (14-1-32) for
the period compared to the Pioneers’ .079 (11-8-38) mark.
Tusculum answered in the second and third sets to take a 2-1 lead
in the match. Both frames saw the Pioneers jump out to solid leads
and hold on for the win.
With their backs against the wall, the Lady Eagles responded in
the fourth stanza to tie the match at two sets apiece. Senior
outside hitter Jessica Schachleiter (Cincinnati,
Ohio) and junior outside hitter Carly Mozgai
(Greensboro, N.C.) combined for 10 kills as C-N cruised to the
25-13 win.
In the fifth and deciding set, Tusculum got out to a 6-3 lead
forcing C-N to call a timeout. The Lady Eagles responded and scored
four straight points to take a 7-6 lead behind Schachleiter’s
serve. The two teams exchanged points until the match was tied at
12. Carson-Newman then scored two straight points to have
match-point in hand, but Tusculum scored two straight points of
their own to knot the deciding set at 14. The Lady Eagles went to
the well one last time and took the final two points of the match
to win, 16-14.
Mozgai and Schachleiter led the way offensively for the Lady
Eagles with 16 and 14 kills, respectively as Schachleiter picked up
17 digs to complete her double-double on the night. Sophomore right
side Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) added nine
kills and a match-high five blocks as well for C-N while freshman
libero Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) led the
team with 21 digs.
Carson-Newman’s most outstanding effort came from senior
setter Stephanie Cutter (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) as
she posted 36 assists, 20 digs and nine kills, making her just one
kill away from a virtually unheard-of triple-double.
Tusculum was led by Bailee Price (Fort Wayne, Ind.) with a
match-high 19 kills, 10 digs and three service aces while Gina
Coffaro (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded 14 digs and led all players
with 27 digs.
Peyton Colclough (Manassas, Va.) dished out 46 assists and
collected 11 digs for TC’s third double-double of the match.
The Pioneers had six players register more than 10 digs on the
night.
Carson-Newman will step out of SAC play to host the Carson-Newman
Midseason “Dig For The Cure” Tournament this weekend at
Holt Fieldhouse. Proceeds from the event will go to support breast
cancer research through the Side-Out Foundation’s “Dig
Pink” initiative.
