Eagles match best SAC win total with two sweeps
October 18, 2014

Eagles match best SAC win total with two sweeps

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time in program history, the Carson-Newman Eagles (18-5, 13-1 South Atlantic Conference) have won 13 league games as this year’s group joins the 2002 team that tied for the conference’s regular season crown.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the second time in program history, the Carson-Newman Eagles (18-5, 13-1 South Atlantic Conference) have won 13 league games as this year's group joins the 2002 team that tied for the conference's regular season crown.

Carson-Newman swept SAC foe Catawba (5-14, 3-11 SAC) 25-12, 25-23 and 25-20 while sweeping nonconference opponent Belmont Abbey (9-14) 25-22, 25-21 and 25-12 Saturday afternoon at Holt Fieldhouse.

"It's very tough mentally and physically to play three matches less than 24 hours in the middle of our season," head coach Dan Ahiers said of his team. "I was really impressed with how hard we worked and the we had in every match."

Match No. 1 – CARSON-NEWMAN 3  Catawba 0

Senior middle blocker Jenna Wilson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) started off the first frame with three kills in the first four rallies to help the Eagles take a 5-0 lead out of the gates as she led the way with five kills.

The second set saw eight ties and four lead changes as the Eagles fell behind 14-10 and could not take a lead until 21-20. It was a lead that the Eagles never relinquished. Wilson once again cranked out five kills while senior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) handed out 11 assists.

Carson-Newman led by as many as eight points in the final frame until Catawba was able to close the game to as few as four points before a kill from junior outside hitter Kianna Sedlacek (Cardington, Ohio) sealed the game for the Eagles.

Wilson led the way with 14 kills on a .455 attack percentage with five block assists to help her squad hit .282 as a team. Pickett dished out 30 assists with five digs and a season-high five service aces.

The Indians were held to a .085 attack percentage as Ashley Brown and McKenzie Garrison each notched six kills.

Match No. 2 – CARSON-NEWMAN 3  Belmont Abbey 0

Set number one featured seven ties and six lead changes but a spurt in the middle of the set gave the Eagles the separation they needed to hold on for a three point win thanks to a service ace from Pickett. Junior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) had six kills on a .357 attack percentage.

With the score deadlocked at nine, the home club used a 6-2 run to take a 15-11 advantage. Senior outside hitter Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, Colo.) smacked a ball to the ground to finish the frame. Santarelli had five kills in the stanza as four separate players notched three kills.

The Eagles fell behind early in the third set before taking a 9-8 lead and using an 16-3 run to close out the match.

Fairley led the way with 14 kills and seven digs while Santarelli had nine kills as Carson-Newman hit .312, its fifth match of the year with at least a .300 attack percentage.

Hannah Schellenberg led all players with 18 kills and 12 digs for the Crusaders.

Carson-Newman returns to action Tuesday night with a short trek to Tusculum for a 7:00 p.m. first serve.

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