September 16, 2013

Eagles prepare for mid-week game versus Mars Hill

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After four matches away from the friendly confines, the Carson-Newman Eagles (5-3, 0-1) return to Holt Fieldhouse to play the Mars Hill Lions (2-3, 0-1) Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Mars Hill

2-4 (0-2 SAC)

Carson-Newman

6-3 (1-1 SAC)

Final	1	2	3	T
Mars Hill 2-4 (0-2 SAC)	20	17	21	0
Carson-Newman 6-3 (1-1 SAC)	25	25	25	3

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – After four matches away from the friendly confines, the Carson-Newman Eagles (5-3, 0-1) return to Holt Fieldhouse to play the Mars Hill Lions (2-3, 0-1) Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

The Eagles took three out of four matches in the King University Invitational over the weekend, including two wins on the final day of competition.

Junior outside hitter Rachel Harper leads the South Atlantic Conference with 106 kills and is third with 3.79 kills per set. The Chattanooga, Tenn. native has five double-doubles in seven matches so far this season.

Kristen Pickett, a junior setter, has tallied 8.42 assists per set this season, the fourth highest total in the conference. The Cleveland, Tenn. native leads the SAC with 13 service aces and has the second-most assists with 261 on the year.

Freshamn libero Taylor Lowe has 111 digs that puts her with the fourth best tally in the conference this season. The Franklin, Tenn. native also ranks third in service aces with 11 this season.

As a unit, head coach Shannon Mincey's group is among the league leaders in several categories. The Eagles are first in the SAC in service aces (62), second in blocks (52), third in kills (364) and fourth in hitting percentage (.203) and assists (328).

Mars Hill has yet to play a game at home this season entering Tuesday evening's game 0-2 in true road games this season.

The Lions are led by senior outside hitter Marissa Wixson, who ranks fourth in the SAC with 3.68 kills per set. The Spring, Texas native has recorded double-digit kills in every match this season, including a season-high 15 on three occasions.

Senior Maggie Murphy is second in the SAC averaging 5.68 digs per set with 108 total scoops. The Richmond, Virg. native had 40 digs against USC Aiken on September 7.

Head coach Tony Fontanelle's group is third in the South Atlantic Conference with a .205 hitting percentage, but the Lions rank last in blocks per set with just 1.16 per frame.

The contest is available at cneagles.com/live with a live video stream for the 7 p.m. first serve.