Newberry and Anderson start four game home stretch for volleyball
October 24, 2013

Newberry and Anderson start four game home stretch for volleyball

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Having played consecutive home games just one time in the last 47 days, the Carson-Newman Eagles (9-11, 4-9) begin a sequence of eight home contests out of ten to conclude the regular season against Newberry and Anderson (S.C.).

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Having played consecutive home games just one time in the last 47 days, the Carson-Newman Eagles (9-11, 4-9) begin a sequence of eight home contests out of ten to conclude the regular season against Newberry and Anderson (S.C.).

"We are so grateful that we actually get to be at home," head coach Shannon Mincey said. "It's been a long road stretch. For young ladies and their classes, trying to fight through being on the road and in their classes is something that is demanding."

The volleyball team will raise awareness for breast cancer with their annual Dig Pink night Friday that will carry into Saturday afternoon.

"Friday night we play for something bigger than just volleyball," Mincey said. "For that, we are able to show fans that we are thankful for that opportunity."

The Eagles have lost five of six games including a three set defeat at Tusculum on Tuesday night. Carson-Newman has been held to a hitting percentage of .093 and .117 over its last two contests after hitting above .200 in five of six matches.

Junior outside hitter Rachel Harper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) was held to single-digit kills against the Pioneers for just the third time this season. Overall this year, Harper ranks second in the South Atlantic Conference with 265 kills and service aces with 0.45 per set.

Junior setter Kristen Pickett (Cleveland, Tenn.) has tallied more than 30 assists in seven consecutive matches averaging nearly ten assists per set in that span. On the season, Pickett ranks third in the SAC with 9.26 assists per stanza.

"We have changed some things since the last time we faced Anderson and Newberry," Mincey said. "It's going to be great for me to see those things executed."

Newberry comes to town for a 7 p.m. first serve Friday night. In the first meeting of the season between the two sides, Carson-Newman won the first two sets before falling in five frames to the Wolves.

Harper finished with 21 kills on a .273 hitting percentage in the match to go along with 16 digs. Pickett recorded the first of five double-doubles this season as she racked up 40 assists and ten digs.

The Wolves are 11th in the SAC in attack percentage hitting at a .161 clip having committed the second-most attack errors with 458. Despite a low offensive ranking, Newberry is second in the conference with 2.06 blocks per set and 16.76 digs per game.

Jessica King sits in the third place in the league with a .333 hitting percentage as she averages 2.32 kills per set. Elayni Stokes is among the more prolific back row players in the league ranking third in digs with 333 averaging 4.62 per set.

The Eagles welcome Anderson (S.C.) to East Tennessee Saturday afternoon for a 1 p.m. start time. The Trojans swept Carson-Newman on September 21. Anderson hit .272 and saw three players finish with double-digit kills.

Shannon Gillespie leads the conference in kills with 273 and is second in the league with 3.96 kills per set despite hitting just .196 this season. Gillespie has over 300 more attack attempts than any other player on the roster.

Live video and stats for each match will be available on cneagles.com/live and you can follow @CNathletics on Twitter for in-game updates.

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