Carson-Newman Volleyball Position Previews: The Middle Blockers
As the count down to the return of Carson-Newman volleyball ensues, it’s only fitting to get an inside look at the 2025-2026 Eagles volleyball roster. This marks the third part in a series of position previews for Carson-Newman volleyball. This edition will feature the middle blockers and hitters.
VIDEO: Maddie Hurst Previews the Middle Blockers
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - As the countdown to the return of Carson-Newman volleyball ensues, it's only fitting to get an inside look at the 2025-2026 Eagles volleyball roster. This marks the third part in a series of position previews for Carson-Newman volleyball. This edition will feature the middle blockers and hitters.
Carson-Newman volleyball is a young team this year, but no position on the team is younger than the group of six middle blockers that join the Eagles for the 2025-26 season.
However, the main contributor to C-N's middle position last year Maddie Hurst is back for another season, and will head up this group of middles as they approach the first competitions of the year.
"Everyone's excited. Everyone wants to play. It's so competitive in practice. Honestly, I'm kind of nervous for myself. It makes me want to work harder, because everyone else is doing so well," Hurst said. "I think that has a lot to do with the coaching, but I also think it has a lot to do with our grit. We want to get better every time we come in and that's a big thing this year."
Hurst was a dominant force at the net last year, logging 292 kills which was sixth among all SAC players and rejected other teams 102 times, a mark good enough for third in the conference. Her efforts throughout last season earned her multiple postseason awards including SAC Freshman of the Year, AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year, and First Team All-SAC Honors.
The conference won't be surprised by the sophomore this year though, and Hurst says she's making the necessary adjustments to be even better than last season.
"I feel when I looked at my stats it gives me motivation to be better this year and so I'm really trying to dial in and learn that footwork and stay disciplined and press," said Hurst.
In the group of six middles the Eagles welcome in Violet Light, Abbey Boothe, and Emmaline Morris as first year blockers. That makes the average age of this position a second-semester freshman.
Despite the young disposition of this group, Hurst says this squad carries a surprising spark to the floor.
"I feel like the middles would be the dark horse. You look at us and you'd think we're going to get kills every time, but I get blocked every single time in practice by everybody else. I feel like it's hard to get a ball across the net with us middles. And, we're staying really disciplined. We work on that a lot in practice, a lot of footwork and you can see it come together," she said.
This season, Hurst will be looking to fellow classmate Bella Cardello to step into a big role this season as well. In her freshman season, Cardello played in 18 sets across eight matches while totaling 12 kills and an impressive 17 blocks in her time on the floor.
"She's just full of energy," Hurst said. "She's probably the most encouraging on the team and the most fun to play with on the court. She screams for everybody. She gets so hyped up for herself. She'll get a kill and she'll be like, 'Oh, I just did that.' She's so funny."
Though the young squad of middles is firey, Hurst knows that the eyes of her teammates will be on her as they learn the ropes.
"Last year I looked up to other people like Blake (Cherry) and Bennett (McCombs) to help me encourage other people and not play for just myself, but play for everybody else. That's probably the biggest thing. This year, I feel like the freshmen ask me a lot of questions, and so I want to be able to do what I'm doing correctly so they can follow me," she said.
This group has done work in the preseason particularly in the blocking department. Last season, Carson-Newman was middle of the pack on defense, totaling 214 blocks and registering a 2.04 blocks per set count. Those statistical marks were good enough for fifth and tied-fourth in the conference respectively.
In a swing heavy conference. Hurst knows that the block will be important this season to accomplish their goals.
"I feel like that was a big thing last year that we struggled with, so I like Coach Cat started that out even in preseason…that's the biggest thing, we have to press over once we go up. We're working really hard in practice now so when games start, like, it's just a habit," Hurst said.
The SAC recently released their preseason rankings for the Eagles volleyball team, slotting them fourth in the conference to Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Anderson. Hurst says that this team has bigger goals than fourth place, and she believes this team has a much higher ceiling.
"I think we should be higher just because, you know, I guess I'm biased. But that's good. If we're underdogs, I think we're going to beat everybody else in the SAC and then prove ourselves, and that's a good way to do it."
Carson-Newman volleyball returns to the floor for the first time in 2025 on September 5th when they travel to the Glenville State Tournament. The first SAC competition begins on September 9th when they face Virginia-Wise.
This is the third edition in a series of position previews for Eagles volleyball. The volleyball position previews will conclude on Tuesday, September 2 with the setters.
