AIKEN, S.C. – For the first time since 2016, Carson-Newman will not start the season 1-0 as UNC Pembroke took down the Eagles in four sets, 25-18, 20-25, 25-16 and 25-14, in the 2021 season opener at USC Aiken's Convocation Center in the USC Aiken Tournament Friday.
The Orange and Blue had won 13 of their previous 15 lidlifters dating back to 2006 entering this campaign with the lone losses coming in 2012 and 2016. This year was the fifth time in the last nine years the club has ignited a slate against a Conference Carolinas club faltering for the first time in that stretch.
UNC Pembroke (1-0) has won each of the last two meetings, its longest winning streak in the eight affairs of the series. Carson-Newman (0-1) had lost only one of the prior five neutral site matches in coach Ashley Tiernan's tenure.
In the first set, there were eight ties and four lead changes with the Eagles taking a 15-12 lead on a smash by Julia Wheeler (Murfreesboro, Tenn.). Out of a time out, the Braves won the next five and 13 of the final 16 points to seize a 1-0 match lead. C-N committed seven attack errors with just eight kills.
Carson-Newman led wire-to-wire in the second set after winning the first three rallies and never allowing its opponent to tie the score. The lead swelled as high as 10 points on a kill from Erin Edwards (Midlothian, Va.) to make it a 19-9 tally. An attack error by Shannon Skyrd clinched the set and knotted the margin at one.
With the score tied at five in the third set, UNC Pembroke rattled off 10 of the next 14 points to take a lead that the Eagles could not put a dent into the rest of the way. Skyrd capped the game with back-to-back service aces. The Braves clubbed the ball at a .444 margin to overshadow the .290 clip by the Eagles.
Once again in the fourth, it was tight early but the Braves broke a 3-3 tie by winning six of seven points to go ahead 9-4 to hold a margin that the Eagles could never pierce. Katelyn West sealed the deal with a smash. In the game, the Eagles committed seven attack errors and produced three kills.
Wheeler dazzled in her debut with a career-high 13 kills hitting .250 adding five digs. Her previous career high was from her Tennessee Tech days, a 12-blast day at Evansville on Sept. 17, 2019. She was the only player in double figures with Edwards adding eight.
Abbey Hildenbrand was solid in her first match with the Eagles handing out 29 assists tacking on five digs, two kills and a pair of block assists. Hayden Barton (Hixson, Tenn.) led all players with 18 digs.
As a team, C-N totaled a .081 hitting percentage marking the third time in 35 matches under Tiernan that the club failed to eclipse .100.
UNC Pembroke piled up a .227, the sixth time an opponent has hit above .200 in the last two-plus seasons while adding 10 aces. Three players finished in double figures in kills led by a dozen from Erin O'Donnell hitting .409. Brianna Warren added 10 with Skyrd pitching a double-double with 11 blasts and 10 scoops. Katie Pressley filled up the stats with 40 assists, eight digs and five kills.
The Eagles will have a chance to put the setback behind them turning the page for a 6 p.m. first serve against host school, USC Aiken, starting at 6 p.m.
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