June 8, 2017

Franklin unveils 2017 volleyball slate

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Five teams that made the NCAA Southeast Region tournament a year ago line Carson-Newman volleyball’s 2017 schedule, released Thursday by head volleyball coach Dave Franklin.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Five teams that made the NCAA Southeast Region tournament a year ago line Carson-Newman volleyball's 2017 schedule, released Thursday by head volleyball coach Dave Franklin.

The Eagles take on Elite Eight participant USC Aiken, Sweet 16 participant Queens, plus Lander, Lincoln Memorial and Wingate in 2017.

"We're still going to be a young team again," Franklin said. "We want to make sure that we are getting good region ranking points. We wanted to put together a schedule that features teams that will push us, but also features winnable matches if we're playing well."

The schedule sets up bizarrely with several long road trips and several lengthy home stands.

The Eagles open up the year with seven straight games away from Jefferson City city limits before playing six straight inside the friendly confines of Holt Fieldhouse.

"We're either home for two weeks, or we're on the road for two weeks," Franklin said. "It'll be a unique thing and it'll be fun to see how we adjust. I think it will be good exposure for kids to play on the road to start the season. That should give us a comfort later in the year when we are on the road."

The Eagles open up the season Sept. 1 in Harrogate at a challenge hosted by Lincoln Memorial. The Eagles take on King and Lee on opening day before playing Erksine, two years removed from an NCAA tournament appearance on Sept. 2.

South Atlantic Conference play starts Sept. 8 with a short jaunt over to Greeneville, Tenn. to take on Tusculum. The Eagles conclude their opening road swing with trips to Mars Hill, Newberry and Coker.

The Eagles' home opener is set for Sept. 19 with a rivalry matchup against Lincoln Memorial. C-N's six-game home stand rolls with dates with Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba, Tusculum and Anderson before wrapping up Sept. 30 with the Eagles' lone nonconference home match of the season against Francis Marion.

That leads into another six-game road trip and a series of 11 matches where the Eagles only play twice at home. The initial six-game road trip of that section sees the Eagles take on four NCAA tournament foes in five games.

It starts Oct. 6 with a jaunt to Wingate, followed by an Oct. 7 date with Queens.

The next weekend takes the Eagles to the SAC/Peach Belt crossover.

"The Peach Belt crossover gives us great competition and shows us where we are in the middle of the year," Franklin said. "It sets up well for us to see where we are competitively."

C-N will take on Lander, Georgia College, USC Aiken and Augusta over the course of two days.

The Eagles wrap up the year with three out of four games at home. Senior weekend is set for Nov. 10-11 with matches against Wingate and Queens.

"On paper, the thing that stands out to me about the SAC is depth," Franklin said. "This isn't a two horse race. I think there are four or five teams that will duke it out. This shapes up to be a highly competitive season where how it plays out in the end isn't determined until the very end."

Sep. 01, 2017vs. King (Tenn.) @ Harrogate, Tenn.12:30 PM

vs. Lee @ Harrogate, Tenn.5:30 PM

Sep. 02, 2017vs. Erskine @ Harrogate, Tenn.11:30 AM

Sep. 08, 2017at Tusculum *7:00 PM

Sep. 09, 2017at Mars Hill *2:00 PM

Sep. 15, 2017at Newberry *7:00 PM

Sep. 16, 2017at Coker *2:00 PM

Sep. 19, 2017Lincoln Memorial *7:00 PM

Sep. 22, 2017Lenoir-Rhyne *7:00 PM

Sep. 23, 2017Catawba *5:00 PM

Sep. 26, 2017Tusculum *7:00 PM

Sep. 29, 2017Anderson (S.C.) *7:00 PM