Challenging gauntlet awaits Eagles at Hampton Inn-Vitational
August 31, 2016

Challenging gauntlet awaits Eagles at Hampton Inn-Vitational

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman opens its 2016 looking to defend its region championship against some of the best teams in the nation with four matches against nationally-ranked competition on Friday and Saturday in the Hampton Inn-Vitational in Pensacola, Fla.

VIDEO: Dave Franklin Interview

Carson-Newman Volleyball Match Notes

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman opens its 2016 looking to defend its region championship against some of the best teams in the nation with four matches against nationally-ranked competition on Friday and Saturday in the Hampton Inn-Vitational in Pensacola, Fla.

The weekend gets kicked off against the reigning national champions and second-ranked Wheeling Jesuit Friday at 10 a.m. with action concluding on the first day with ninth-ranked Central Missouri at 3 p.m.

The Eagles wrap up the weekend with a 10 a.m. first serve against No. 26 Findlay and No. 23 West Florida, the host school, at 3 p.m.

Carson-Newman's four opponents averaged 31 wins in 2015 and lost on average six matches.

"The good news is that I don't have to get their competitive juices flowing," Carson-Newman coach Dave Franklin said. "They're ready to go. They know when they step out there these opponents are going to be high quality opponents. I think they know they we are going in to find a way to see who we are. We are going to get tested. We are going to find out where our weaknesses are and what we need to do to compete at that kind of level."

The Eagles had their most successful season in history and the best season the league has ever seen in 2015 winning the program's first Southeast Region Championship going 29-8 before falling in four sets to No. 11 Wayne State (Neb.) in the National Quarterfinals.

C-N won 29 matches, more than any other team in the league a season ago marking the first time since 2002 that an Eagle group accomplished that feat. The Orange and Blue received 17 votes in the final American Volleyball Coaches' Association poll, the first time in school history to accomplish that feat.

The program saw Natalie Harris (Monroe, N.C.) pick up its first SAC Freshman of the Year and Sara Fairley earn the school's volleyball SAC Scholar Athlete.

In 2016, Franklin is looking to replace the top three kill producers from the 2015 but returns four starters and eight total letter winners including two of the team's all-conference picks in Harris and junior setter Anna Patton (Franklin, Tenn.).

Wheeling Jesuit and Carson-Newman have played just one time with the Cardinals coming out on top in straight sets at the beginning of the 2000 season, the Eagles lone SAC Tournament Championship season.

The lone meeting between C-N and West Florida came at the end of the 2003 season with the Eagles taking a 3-1 victory.

Carson-Newman has never played a match against Central Missouri nor Findlay in its history.

Wheeling Jesuit is the reigning national champions, the program's first title, after dropping just one set during its six-match run to the championship. The Eagles have never faced a defending national champion.

Wheeling Jesuit received 20 first-place votes in the preseason AVCA Coaches' Poll beginning the year behind Concordia St. Paul, who received 25 first-place votes.

The Cardinals return six starters from the national championship squad including AVCA All-Americans Andrea Thobe, a setter, and Haley Kindall, a middle blocker. Thobe finished one assist shy of leading the country in assists tallying 1,696 while Kendall racked up 444 points and hit .356, 24th at the Division II level.

The Redbirds also return conference player of the year Kayce Kruki, AVCA Atlantic Region Freshman of the Year Lauran Graves and all-region Emma Schleucher.

Central Missouri was the No. 2 seed in the Central Region in 2015 before being bounced by the same team that eliminated Carson-Newman, Wayne State (Neb.) in four sets. It was the 33rd straight NCAA Championships appearance for the program.

The top returner is senior middle Maddie Jones, an AVCA All-American in 2015 after piling up 401 points and a .349 attack percentage.

Senior setter Kourtney Thompson is a two-time all-conference selection and racked up 1,315 assists, 262 digs and 138 kills.

Franklin's alma mater, Findlay, finished 2015 with a 26-9 record and earned the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region. After defeating fifth-seeded Hillsdale in the opening round, it was bounced by top-seeded Ferris State in four sets.

Two-time All-American Hannah Tong leads the charge after posting 509 kills while hitting .294 for the Oilers.

The 2015 NCAA Division II Freshman of the Year Hailee Olson is back for her second season as the setter. The All-American notched 1,523 total assists and 38 aces.

West Florida finished the 2015 season 28-7 to earn the fifth seed in the South Region where it was swept by fourth-seeded St. Leo.

The Argos return 14 letter winners led by six seniors and were picked to win the Gulf South in the preseason coaches' poll.

Two all-conference performers lead the way. Setter Monique StCyr handed out 10.43 assists per set and led the league with 0.49 aces per set and 55 total aces while libero Tori Martella led the conference with 4.97 digs per set.

All of the matches will have live stats that you can find by going to the tournament central page. Carson-Newman's final match of the weekend will be broadcast here. Fans can follow @CNathletics and @CarsonNewmanVB during the season for the latest coverage.

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