VIDEO: Ashley Tiernan Interview
VIDEO: Match Highlights
VIDEO: Emmagrace Cobb Interview
VIDEO: Mckenna Hall Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman (10-11, 7-4 SAC) collected their 11th straight win and fourth consecutive sweep over the Newberry Wolves (5-14, 4-7 SAC) on Tuesday night at Holt Fieldhouse.
"We stayed composed that entire game and really we just had fun today. I saw a lot more smiles on the court than we've seen the past couple weeks." said head coach Ashley Tiernan. "Tonight we just played free. We were composed and just played free."
Julia Wheeler led the Eagles offensively and defensively with 15 kills and 15 digs, collecting her third consecutive double-double.
In one of their most effiecient matches this season, three Eagles concluded the night with hitting percentages above .500. Senior middle blocker Emmagrace Cobb collected 12 kills after only 18 attempts for .556. Skylor Weaver recorded a scorching .700 hitting percentage with seven kills in 10 attempts and no errors. Mckenna Hall had a perfect 1.000 night with one kill on one attempt.
Blair Cherry, Mckenna Hall, and Julia Wheeler all documented double-digit digs. Freshman setter Blair Cherry had 11 digs and 39 assists to mark her seventh double-double this season.
Newberry's Olivia Bradley led the match defensively with 19 digs. Outside hitter Taylor Hall led the Wolves offensively with 12 kills.
Collectively, the Eagles outscored the Wolves in kills (50-30), attempts (126-112), hitting percentage (.270-.134), service aces (5-2), and digs (59-51). Newberry bested Carson-Newman only in blocks (6.0-5.0).
Set 1 (25-21)
With Carson-Newman in the lead at 21-10, Newberry battled back and were able to close in within three points of the Eagles at 24-21. However, an attack error by Newberry sealed the set and put C-N in the lead 1-0. Newberry's Taylor Hall led in set 1 with seven kills. Emmagrace Cobb and Julia Wheeler both had four.
"They definitely didn't give up, they worked hard and put effort into every single ball." said senior Emmagrace Cobb. "We had to let them have their moments because we knew they're gonna do good things. Then we just focused on outself and what we needed to do to get the next point."
VIDEO: Emmagrace Cobb Interview
Set 2 (25-18)
After starting set two with six back to back ties, Carson-Newman garned a six point run to boost them into the lead. The Eagles had an impressivlely efficient second set, hitting .438 collectively. Emmagrace Cobb had an astounding six kills in six attempts for a perfect 1.000 performance. Skylor Weaver and Libero Mckenna Hall also recorded 1.000 in set two, utilizing every opportunity to score for Carson-Newman.
Set 3 (25-17)
With a 2-0 lead over Newberry, Carson-Newman entered the final set dominant and steady. They bolted to a 10-3 lead the start the frame and maintained the lead until the match was called. Julia Wheeler led offensively with six kills in set three. Both Wheeler and setter Blair Cherry recorded seven digs.
The Carson-Newman Eagles hit the road and will conlude the week with three matches this weekend. On Friday they will face Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C at 6 pm. In a quick turnaroud they will head to greenwood, S.C. on Saturday to meet with Augusta and Lander at 12 and 7:30 pm.
