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JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Carson-Newman volleyball team will showcase many new faces for the 2009 season, as five newcomers will be counted on to produce for the Eagles.

The Eagles open the season on Friday with two matches in the Chick-fil-A Invitational hosted by C-N, starting with a match at 1 p.m. against Glenville State. C-N will also play Francis Marion at 7 p.m.

With a mixture of youth and experience set to take the court, C-N wants to follow its 2008 footsteps and earn a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

"Now that our players have had the experience of going to the NCAA tournament, they want it again," said C-N coach Shannon Mincey, who enters her sixth season at the helm of the program. "They know what it takes to get there and hopefully they learned from last season in our upset during the first round what it takes to stay there."

"The team is centering its focus around `the huddle.' A lot can be accomplished in the huddle. A huddle represents unity and is a time to come up with a game plan, encourage and motivate. It is a time to believe in each other and the goals the team has set."

The Eagles, which went 24-15 last season and advanced to the NCAA Southeast Regional tournament, will have to compensate for the loss of five starters who exhausted their eligibility during the 2008 season.

"Loosing five starters not only drastically changes the lineup but also offers some leadership shoes to fulfill." Mincey said.

Replacing the starters will take some balancing between the experienced senior class and a highly talented incoming class.

"This is the first year I've coached where truly everyone I have on the roster will be expected to contribute in many areas," Mincey said. "A lot of times I have that window where I can take time to train a player to prepare them for down the road. However, that is not the case this year. One of my biggest challenges may be to see how we can get so many of our big kids on the court at the same time to produce a bigger block against our opponents."

DEFENSE

The Eagles will have new faces on the backline, as two freshmen will take charge of the defense.

Freshmen Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Mackenzie Tyree (Daleville, Va.) will be given plenty of responsibility.

"Those two are dynamic," Mincey said of Hayes and Tyree. "I am so excited about their potential and their leadership as a duo. They complement each other nicely and will most likely not play like true freshmen."

MIDDLES

The middle blocking position will be deep and experienced this season, as the Eagles will rely on senior middle hitter and preseason first team All-South Atlantic Conference selection Katie Troyer (Plain City, Ohio) to take charge of the offense.

"Katie had an outstanding year last season," Mincey said. "We only expect her to be better and stronger this year."

Transfer Jessica Brady (Fruitland Park, Fla.) will be a versatile player for the Eagles, playing both right side and in the middle.

"Jessica is the type of player we can depend on for any position. She doesn't make any mental errors and is good to have in the game when the match is close," Mincey said.

Sophomore Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) will be back in action as she was fifth in the nation in blocks per game as a true freshman in 2007.

"Nikki adds size to our frontline," Mincey said. "She has a natural talent for blocking."

Newcomer Jasmine Clark (Pelham, Ala.) will also be relied on for production.

"Her athleticism will allow our offense to run more options," Mincey said of Clark.

OUTSIDES/RIGHT SIDES

The Eagles return a wealth of experience at the outside hitting position, as senior Jessica Schachleiter (Cincinnati, Ohio) and junior Carly Mozgai (Greensboro, N.C.), a preseason first team All-SAC pick, will be carrying on the team's hopes of earning a spot in the Regional Tournament with their experience and leadership.

"Carly and Jessica came back strong for the preseason. It was evident they had worked very hard over the summer," Mincey said.

Freshman Rachael Bowlin (Morristown, Tenn.) will add depth to numerous positions.

"We love Rachael's versatility and think she can play either position," Mincey offered.

Senior Caitlin Schlegel (Anacortes, Wash.), who had a strong spring season, will also provide experience for the Eagles.

"Caitlin has always been a clutch player who can hit a very heavy ball," Mincey said.

SETTERS

Charisma and fire best describe senior setter Stephanie Cutter (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), who earned preseason second team All-SAC honors and will be asked to lead the Eagles on the court.

"I've never seen a setter get more excited for her hitters than Stephanie Cutter," Mincey said. "There is a possibility of running a 5-1 offense with Cutter or using our large blockers and sticking with a 6-2 offense."

Junior Lara McDonald (Salem, Va.) has been training as a setter and will be looked upon to provide more experience at the position.

"Lara worked hard during the spring season, feeling the pressure on her shoulders to take over this position after Allyson Corhn graduated," Mincey said.

Freshman Meghan Gass (Collierville, Tenn.) will also be counted on to grow in the Eagles' system as a setter.

"Meghan will be our sponge at this position," Mincey said. "I am excited to train her and get her accustomed to our system."

The Eagles will need the newcomers to gel quickly with their experienced upperclassmen, as they will face another strong schedule in 2009. C-N will take on five participants from last year's NCAA Southeast Regional, including SAC opponents Lincoln Memorial, Wingate and Catawba.

"Our conference will have a lot of parity this year," Mincey said. "Every conference match is crucial because that is one step closer to receiving a top eight regional slot. Our team has high expectations for themselves, and this is something they want to do. I am not forcing them to believe in it. The senior class truly wants to be the best group to go through Carson-Newman volleyball."

"We will experience setbacks and have to deal with adversity, but I feel those things make a team stronger. Ultimately, the unity and closeness of our team is something no one can take away from us even if the scoreboard shows otherwise. However, our players are determined to let their hard work and determination take them as far as they can go."