Efficient Eagles split sweeps at Union Tournament
September 17, 2021

Efficient Eagles split sweeps at Union Tournament

JACKSON, Tenn. – Carson-Newman recorded its most efficient match in two years sweeping Christian Brothers, 25-15, 25-15 and 25-19, before getting blocked 10 times in the tightest match of the year against Arkansas Tech falling 20-25, 22-25 and 22-25 in day one of the Union Tournament at Fred Delay Gym on Friday.

Christian Brothers Match Box Score (PDF)

Arkansas Tech Match Box Score (PDF)

JACKSON, Tenn. – Carson-Newman recorded its most efficient match in two years sweeping Christian Brothers, 25-15, 25-15 and 25-19, before getting blocked 10 times in the tightest match of the year against Arkansas Tech falling 20-25, 22-25 and 22-25 in day one of the Union Tournament at Fred Delay Gym on Friday.

"Our team goal this weekend was to grow and learn in the game," Carson-Newman coach Ashley Tiernan said. "We did a great job of adapting and finding shots in order to reach that goal. I am proud of the team I saw today and we will continue to grow and learn in each match tomorrow."

Carson-Newman (4-5) secures a second straight win over the Bucs in the first three meetings against Christian Brothers (2-8) taking home its first sweep of the 2021 campaign. The Eagles had won four of five matches before falling to Arkansas Tech (5-3) to conclude the first day.

Match One: CARSON-NEWMAN 3, Christian Brothers 0

The Eagles produced a .300 hitting percentage or better for the sixth time in Tiernan's tenure hitting .349 for the match, the highest margin since a .361 tally against Catawba on Oct. 5, 2019.

Erin Edwards (Midlothian, Va.) led the way on the day with 13 kills on a .579 hitting margin adding a team-high two total blocks, tied with three teammates for that margin. Julia Wheeler (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Taylor Keeran (Gailon, Ohio) added eight blasts apiece. All told, nine different players notched a kill with five producing four or more.

Abbey Hildenbrand (Parker, Colo.) handed out 20 assists with five kills and Hayden Barton (Hixson, Tenn.) chipped in 10 digs. The Eagles added six service aces and a dozen rejections.

It was tight contest at the outset with the Eagles clinging to an 8-7 edge before winning each of the next 10 points to go on top by nine. Carson-Newman needed five set points before Wheeler cranked a ball to the ground to clinch the opening game.

Once again in the second stanza, a big run proved to be the key. C-N's lead was 9-7 when it won five straight and 12 of the next 15 to swell the bulge to 21-10. Keeran capped the game with a kill to put the Orange and Blue ahead 2-0.

With four ties and three lead changes in the third, the Eagles trailed 8-6 when it rattled off seven straight points to take charge. While the Bucs crept within three points thrice, a combo block on the right pin sealed the sweep.

Christian Brothers hit .087 for the match but tallied 12 kills and 12 misfires combined in the first two sets adding five blocks, four aces and 25 digs. Tia Rizvi paced the attack with six kills hitting .385 on the day. Kalea Davis dished out 20 assists.

Match Two: ARKANSAS TECH 3, Carson-Newman 0

Each team finished with 35 kills in the match but the Eagles committed five more attack errors in a match where they were outscored by 11 total points. C-N hit .121 total with six blocks, five aces and 56 digs.

Edwards once again led the way with a dozen smashes on a .242 hitting percentage tallying a solo block. Blake Cherry (Cookeville, Tenn.) piled up nine blasts adding seven digs. Hildenbrand recorded a double-double with 17 assists and 11 digs chipping in five kills. Barton led the way with 14 digs and Keeran had three solo blocks.

The Eagles fell behind by three points several times in the first set and used an 8-2 scoring burst to jump ahead 15-12 but the Golden Suns won 13 of the final 18 points to seize the set breaking a 20-20 tie with five unanswered points.

In a match that featured 25 ties and 13 lead changes, the most of any affair in 2021, the second stanza posted a dozen ties and seven lead changes. Arkansas Tech went ahead by five points at 18-13 but the Orange and Blue found an answer winning nine of the next 11 points to go on top 22-20. Once again, Tech rattled off the final five points aided by a C-N service error and attack error.

With the score tied at nine in the third, the Golden Suns won four straight and held on as the Eagles could not get any closer than three points until a Wheeler ace made it 24-22 to prompt a time out. However, a ball handling error by C-N wrapped up the contest.

No one in a green and yellow jersey finished with double-digit kills but five players recorded at least five kills with Tymber Riley leading the way with nine on the day. Madison Grantham led all athletes with 18 digs. Briana Merkel paced the setting tandem with 14 assists, eight digs and two kills.

Carson-Newman wraps up the weekend at the Union Tournament with Southern Arkansas at 11 a.m. on Saturday and a 5 p.m. nightcap against Union.

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