Lockdown defense stifles Queens in Eagle sweep
September 19, 2014

Lockdown defense stifles Queens in Eagle sweep

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (6-3, 2-0 South Atlantic Conference) defeated the Queens Royals (4-6, 0-2) 25-18, 25-15 and 25-18 Friday night at the Levine Center as the Eagles have started 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2005.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (6-3, 2-0 South Atlantic Conference) defeated the Queens Royals (4-6, 0-2) 25-18, 25-15 and 25-18 Friday night at the Levine Center as the Eagles have started 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2005.

"We passed very well," head coach Dan Ahiers said after the match. "We served extremely tough tonight and it took Queens out of their game plan. We made a collective effort to not let any balls hit the ground and it really frustrated their hitters into errors."

The first set was a tightly contested game, but Carson-Newman won 13 of the final 20 points capped by a kill from junior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.). The Eagles hit .464 in the frame as senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) handed out 14 assists.

The visiting club never trailed in the second stanza racing out to an 11-5 lead before the Royals were forced to use a timeout. Queens pulled within five on one occasion, but a -.086 attack percentage thwarted any comeback bid.

Queens held a couple leads in the final frame, but none of the leads came once the point total hit double figures. Despite hitting .154, Carson-Newman breezed to a match win.

The Royals hit .029 in the match which was the lowest by an Eagle opponent since Notre Dame de Namur hit .024 in the opening contest of the season.

Senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) led all players with 12 kills to go along with six digs. Pickett piled up 33 assists while Fairley had eight kills and five digs in her hometown. Sophomore libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) racked up 19 digs.

Carson-Newman travels to Catawba for a 2:00 p.m. first serve against the Indians looking for the school's first 3-0 league start since 2003.

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