Opening day of SAC/PBC Challenge sees Eagles split
October 9, 2015

Opening day of SAC/PBC Challenge sees Eagles split

AIKEN, S.C. – On the opening day of the South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Conference Challenge, the Carson-Newman Eagles (14-4) defeated the Augusta Jaguars (10-6) 25-23, 23-25, 25-14 and 25-18 to begin Friday’s action at the Convocation Center. In the nightcap, the Eagles fell 14-25, 21-25 and 19-25 to the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers (13-3).

Augusta University Final Box Score

USC Aiken Final Box Score

AIKEN, S.C. – On the opening day of the South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Conference Challenge, the Carson-Newman Eagles (14-4) defeated the Augusta Jaguars (10-6) 25-23, 23-25, 25-14 and 25-18 to begin Friday's action at the Convocation Center. In the nightcap, the Eagles fell 14-25, 21-25 and 19-25 to the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers (13-3).

"It took everything we had to beat Augusta," Carson-Newman coach Dan Ahiers said. "They're a very good and well-balanced team. We played a great match. Our defense, offense, serve receive and serving was clicking on all cylinders. It's probably the best match we've played all season. Unfortunately I think we spent a little too much energy in the first one and didn't quite rise to the challenge in the second match versus Aiken. They're too good to bring your B-game and expect a win. We'll get some good food tonight, sleep a bunch and get ready to play another tough match at Lander tomorrow."

Match No. 1 – Carson-Newman 3, Augusta University 1

The first set featured seven ties and four lead changes with Carson-Newman holding its largest lead of the set at 10-6 before Augusta rattled off eight of the next nine points to take a 14-11 lead. The Eagles recaptured the lead at 19-18 on a service ace by freshman libero Megan Morris (Mount Pleasant, S.C.). The two sides traded rallies until the Eagles won the final two points to capture the opening set.

Carson-Newman surged out to a 13-7 lead in the second stanza as Augusta chipped away at the deficit before taking an 18-17 edge. It was a lead the Jaguars would never relinquish despite the score being tied at 23.

The Eagles hit .481 as a team led by five kills from senior outside hitter Molly Locke (College Grove, Tenn.) on seven attacks. With Carson-Newman holding a two-point lead at 12-10, the Eagles used an 8-1 run to go ahead 20-11 on a kill by freshman outside hitter Cecily Clark (Cincinnati, Ohio). A kill by senior outside hitter Sara Fairley (Charlotte, N.C.) sealed the set victory.

In the fourth frame, Fairley pounded out four kills as the Eagles went wire-to-wire in the set running out to a 9-2 lead. The closest Augusta could get was three points as Carson-Newman coasted to a match victory.

Locke led all players with 17 kills on a .361 hitting percentage and 10 digs, her fifth double-double of the season.

Sophomore setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.) notched a double-double for the fourth straight match piling up a match-high 36 assists and 12 digs to accompany three block assists.

Fairley had 11 kills and seven digs, junior libero Taylor Lowe (Franklin, Tenn.) had 12 digs and junior middle blocker Maddie Borch (Walnut Creek, Calif.) tallied eight kills, four digs and four block assists.

Carson-Newman won the battle at the net with nine blocks compared to seven from Augusta while hitting .227 versus .134.

Cat DeSilvester led all players with 24 digs and Alyssa Latham had 30 assists, five digs and four kills to lead the way for the Jaguars.

Match No. 2 – USC Aiken 3, Carson-Newman 0

Carson-Newman stormed out of the gates winning the first four points of the match. USC Aiken promptly responded by winning 15 of the next 18 rallies to go ahead 15-7. The Pacers forced the Eagles into a -.118 attack percentage in the set cruising to a first-set victory.

USC Aiken was pummeling the ball in the second stanza hitting .412 in the set, but Carson-Newman competed and was behind 20-18 thanks to a kill from freshman middle blocker Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.). The Eagles never trailed by two points the rest of the way using a mini-spurt to close out the set.

The home team once again controlled the set in the third winning 11 of the first 13 points. While the Eagles chipped away at the lead, the deficit was too much to overcome as the neither side won more than two straight points the rest of the way.

Locke once again led the way for the Eagles cranking out 12 kills on a .357 attack percentage coupled with five digs.

Fairley had six kills as no other Eagle topped three kills in the match. Patton had 17 assists and seven digs while Lowe finished with 11 digs.

USC Aiken hit .280 as a team marking the second-highest attack percentage against the Eagles on the year. The Pacers also racked up eight blocks compared to five for Carson-Newman.

Ashley Diedrich and Taylor Stratton finished in double figures in terms of kills with 13 and 10 respectively. Emily Teelon racked up 25 assists and 13 digs.

Carson-Newman wraps up play in the SAC/PBC Challenge Saturday at noon against the Lander Bearcats. A live video stream can be found by clicking here or you can check out the live stats page here.

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