Harper notches 1,000th career kill in Eagles win
September 26, 2014

Harper notches 1,000th career kill in Eagles win

BREVARD, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (9-3, 5-0 South Atlantic Conference) topped the Brevard Tornados (8-4, 2-3 SAC) 25-21, 25-21, 28-26 and 25-19 Friday night at Boshamer Gymnasium. In the fourth set, senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) recorded her 1,000th career kill.

BREVARD, N.C. – The Carson-Newman Eagles (9-3, 5-0 South Atlantic Conference) topped the Brevard Tornados (8-4, 2-3 SAC) 25-21, 25-21, 28-26 and 25-19 Friday night at Boshamer Gymnasium. In the fourth set, senior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) recorded her 1,000th career kill.

"It's always good to get a win on the road in a tough environment," head coach Dan Ahiers said after the match. "We're making too many bad attacking errors right now though. If we clean that up and make better decisions, we'll keep getting better."

The first frame set the tone for the match as the largest lead for either side was four points early in the first set. With the score tied at 21, the Eagles went on a 4-0 run to end the set as junior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) found the surface to put Carson-Newman on top 1-0.

The Eagles once again held several leads in the second stanza, but Brevard was able to knot the score at 21 once again before Carson-Newman reeled off the final four points with a kill by Harper capping the set.

The third set saw 16 ties and nine lead changes that included a pair of match points for the Eagles, but Brevard battled to extend the match. The Eagles fended off a set point, but a pair of attack errors left the door open and the Tornados were quick to pounce and force a fourth set.

Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) dominated the fourth set with seven kills on eight attacks as the Eagles closed out the match. With Carson-Newman leading 18-14, Harper received a set from senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) which Harper put away to tally her 1,000th career kill.

Wilson led the way for the Eagles with a season-high 20 kills on a .529 attack percentage and two solo blocks with three block assists. It marked the third straight match in which Wilson reached double figures in kills.

Harper tallied her third double-double of the season by matching a season-high with 17 kills and recording a new season-best with 20 digs.

Pickett had 50 assists, the most she has had in a match this season to go along with nine digs, three block assists and four kills.

Carson-Newman heads down the road to face the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (9-3, 3-2 SAC) Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

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