Lady Eagles Open 2011 Season at Francis Marion Tournament Beginning Friday
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles begin their quest for a fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their first South Atlantic Conference title under eighth-year head coach Shannon Mincey this Friday as the 2011 volleyball season begins.
ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles begin their quest for a fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their first South Atlantic Conference title under eighth-year head coach Shannon Mincey this Friday as the 2011 volleyball season begins.
The Lady Eagles open their regular season at the Francis Marion Invitational beginning on Friday. They will face Belmont Abbey, UNC Pembroke on Friday, and follow with Erskine, and Francis Marion on Saturday in a busy opening weekend. Last season, the Lady Eagles went 4-0 in the tournament. C-N opens SAC play with Winagte on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse.
If the Lady Eagles are to reach their goals, youth will have to be served. Carson-Newman sports a roster of 13, with nine underclassmen, six of which are freshmen. A statistic that might panic some coaches, but, instead, has Mincey excited about her team's energy, and her options in the lineup.
"So many people have said 'wow you have a lot of freshman Mincey says. "In normal circumstances, six freshman may be a scary thing to a coach. However, this particular group brings a wealth of experience and energy to our group. Our upperclassmen are so excited to have more people on the team this year. Last year, to have only nine players, took away from some competitiveness within positions and during practice. Our seniors are a perfect fit for this group serving their fellow teammates while leading them toward a final team goal which is to garner a conference championship."
The Lady Eagles do have a talented core group of veterans, led by seniors Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.) and Carly Swisher.
James is a first team All-SAC selection in the middle, and has ALl-American aspirations after leading the the nation in blocks a season ago.
"(Nikki's) leadership, work ethic and drive will be an unspoken example of stepping up," Mincey said. "She is fun to watch when she blocks as that is her true love. She wants to equal that offensively this season and will work with her setters on good connections."
James, a 5-11 middle hitter, averaged 1.73 blocks per game in 2010. She finished the year with a career-high 199 blocks (63 block solos, 136 block assists). James was also fifth in the conference with a hitting percentage of .288 and second on the team in kills with 329. She was a second team All-SAC performer in 2010 and an American Volleyball Coaches' Association All-Region Honorable Mention selection.
Swisher, imposing at 6-2, is the Lady Eagles second senior and a second team All-SAC selection. She ranked second on the team in blocks last season with 85, averaging 0.74 blocks per game. She also ranked third on the team in kills with 271. She'll be asked to carry the Lady Eagles on the right side.
"Carli's intensity during matches fires up her teammates," Mincey says. "The more energy her team creates the harder she seems to swing. She has developed some leadership qualities which will guide our underclassmen."
Position-by-position
Outside Hitters
Junior Outside Hitter Rachael Bowlin (Morristown, TN) exemplifies leadership during play proving herself a strong player for the team. Rachael put a lot of effort into working out this summer to be a versatile go to player. Rachael ended her sophomore season stepping up for her team and playing in the NCAA tournament after sitting out two weeks due to mono. I was impressed with Rachael's love for the game and her willingness to put herself back on the court after missing so much. We may not have accomplished all we did without her help. I have already and will continue to use Rachael as a leader on and off the court.
Lindsey Bryant (Atlanta, GA) enters her sophomore as an outside hitter and or middle hitter after playing middle her entire freshman career filling a void the Eagles had. It is nice to know Lindsey can be used in either position this year. Her blocking capabilities allow us to be bigger at the net. She brings a lot of fun energy to our team while she is playing. She attacks the ball high and is an easy hitter to find in the air for our setters.
Lauren Santarelli (Colorado Springs, CO) brings the Eagles a wealth of talent her freshman season. Lauren will help her squad immediately and be looked upon to put the ball away in tight situations.
Freshman, Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, TN) is a versatile player who attacks the ball aggressively. She is coachable and will be used in several positions depending on what we need.
Middle Hitters
Senior Nikki James (Cookeville, TN) looks to lead her team to a conference championship this season. Her leadership, work ethic and drive will be an unspoken example of stepping up. Nikki finished the year as the top blocker in the nation. She is fun to watch when she blocks as that is her true love. She wants to equal that offensively this season and will work with her setters on good connections.
Ashley Ferris (Karns, TN) enters her freshman season coming off a very successful high school year as the KIL player of the year. Ashley hits a hard heavy ball. She sees the block well during her attack and cuts around it remarkable for a freshman. Her personality is very much team oriented. She will be asked to contribute offensively while improving her blocking to become a complete player.
Sophomore Kirby Ellis (Bakersfield, CA) will serve as a student assistant her sophomore season after suffering 2 ACL injuries her freshman year. Our goal is for Kirby to rehab and be healthy again. We want her back on the court but certaintly aren't going to rush anything for that to happen. With her time being served off the court, Kirby will be looked upon to strengthen the team spiritually. She has a sweet spirit and has been blessed with an opportunity to work with Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Rightside Hitter
Senior Carly Swisher enters her senior year being selected to the Pre-Season All Conference Swing. Carly provides such a strong presence on the court for us. She has a big block and attacks a heavy ball. When she has an opening in the block she most always gets a kill. Her attacks are hard to dig. She is taking her senior year very seriously and wants to excel and be the best she can for her team.
Setters
Sophomore, Courtney Lawson (Chattanooga, TN) enters the season with a lot of playing experience. She led the Eagles offense her freshman season. Courtney has no fear on the court; she is self-motivated and driven. When Courtney is on the court she doesn't get rattled. She remains poised and keeps the same composure not matter the score.
Freshman, Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, TN) brings energy to the team. She loves the sport and is very competitive. While recruiting Kristen, I was attracted to her charisma. I am very confident in her abilty to set the long set during transitional play. Kristen will be develop into someone the team can rely on.
Libero / Defensive Specialist
Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, TN) is so much fun to watch. It seems in every action shot we have of her she is fist pumping in the air while celebrating a teammates point. She gets her teammates fired up during a match. Her competitive nature is contagious. Her aggressive "take-charge" defense proves her a true team player. Angelle will shine this season as a libero for the Eagles.
Freshman, Blair Fields (Bluff City, TN) plays fearless on the backrow. Her intent to grow and be better is going to be a positive the the future of the team. Blair will develop into a solid Libero for the Eagles.
Sophomore, Sierra Weaver, (Lake Placid, FL) worked hard during her freshman season. She made many changes during spring training and continued to work hard over the summer. Sierra has a self-initiated drive to be better. She is very determined and focused to meet her personal goals. She is true team player and will be used in many ways on and off the court.
