Beach Volleyball Announces 2021 Schedule
JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. – After finishing the 2020 season with the best record in program history, the Carson-Newman Beach Volleyball team announced their 2021 schedule on Thursday, Jan. 21.
JEFFERSON CITY, TENN. – After finishing the shortened 2020 season with the best record in program history, the Carson-Newman Beach Volleyball team announced their 2021 schedule on Thursday, Jan. 21.
"Like with most people, COVID has definitely been a challenge for us along with indoor playing at the same time," says Lind. "We're really just grateful and blessed that we can play and that there are teams that are able to play us. This year we're going to stay closer to home and play a more regional schedule."
The Eagles will open up at home with a scrimmage on March 12 against Erskine College. The contest will be the Eagles' first home match in almost two years, the last being a tri-match against Stevenson and Lincoln Memorial on April 7, 2019.
Carson-Newman will officially kickoff the 2021 campaign with a tri-match the next day, March 13, against Erskine and Tusculum. This will be the first meeting between the Eagles and the Flying Fleet, as Erskine is in just their second year of beach volleyball, finishing 2020 with a 1-3 record. Tusculum leads the all-time series against Carson-Newman 5-0, the last meeting coming at the 2019 AVCA Small College Championships in Tavares, Florida, a 4-1 Pioneer victory.
"We have a very experienced group of girls and a lot of seniors, but they haven't been able to really have a home match," says Lind. "It was really important to me to get that on the schedule right away and one of the first weekends, just in case something happens."
The Eagles will travel south to Chattanooga to take on Southern Miss and UT-Chattanooga in a tri-match. This will be the first meeting ever between Carson-Newman and the Golden Eagles and the Mocs. Carson-Newman is 5-32 all-time against Division I programs, the last win coming on March 31, 2019 against Eastern Kentucky.
After a short break, Carson-Newman begins their busiest week of the year, traveling to the Palmetto state to take on Coastal Carolina in a Sunday doubleheader. The Chanticleers lead the series 2-0, the last meeting a 5-0 win on March 24, 2019 in Wilmington, NC. The two schools were scheduled to meet at the Coastal Carolina Invitational last season before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season.
"We weren't sure about Coastal Carolina at first but after talking to my assistant we decided we needed this trip to make some memories," says Lind. "We're excited to go a little early and have some bonding time and then play a tough team that is going to challenge us."
The Eagles return to Jefferson City for their final home match of the season, a doubleheader against St. Andrews on March 31. This is the first ever all-time meeting for the Knights and Eagles, and the first season of the beach volleyball program at St. Andrews.
There will be no rest for the weary as Carson-Newman heads to Due West, South Carolina for a doubleheader against Erskine on April 1. It will be the first time the Eagles have faced a team more than twice in a single season since facing Tusculum five times and Eastern Kentucky three times in 2019, going a combined 2-6.
The season ends with a trip to Tavares, Florida for three days of play at the AVCA Small College Championships beginning on April 16. Carson-Newman holds an all-time record of 1-6 at AVCA, the lone win coming on April 1, 2019 against Principia.
"AVCA is the best of the best," says Lind. "It's going to be tough, but these girls are experienced and are going to be ready and it'll be a great memory for them."
