Carson-Newman Volleyball Position Previews: The Setters
The Eagles bring four setters into the 2024 season.
VIDEO: Setters Preview with Blair Cherry
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Eagles bring four setters into the 2024 season.
Returning two and adding one more the Eagles depth at the setter position remains the same after losing Carlee Allbaugh to graduation.
Last season's standout freshman, Blair Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.), returns to the lineup on a historic pace. Also returning to the list of setters is Madilyn Pardue (Kernersville, N.C.).
"I'm just super excited to be with my new teammates" Cherry said. "We've worked really hard in the offseason; we've put the work in this preseason so far and we can't wait until our first game."
Cherry led the Eagles in assists in 23 of the team's 31 matches in the 2023 season, recording a total of 723 assists as a freshman. If the pace continues, Cherry will crack the C-N All-Time top 10 in total assists by the end of this season.
Pardue only saw action in four matches, tallying 15 assists across five matches. Now being the second-most senior setter Pardue should see more time on the floor for her sophomore season.
Carson-Newman welcomes two new setters to the team in Addie Smith of Jonesborough, Tennessee and Nora Van Horn of Cary, North Carolina.
Smith is a sophomore transfer from Division III Maryville where her talents far exceed the assists category. Smith accrued three rare triple-doubles (10+ kills, assists, and digs) while with the Scots, ranking her tied for 16th nationally across all D-III athletes.
"[Addie]'s been awesome, she's a great teammate" Cherry said. "She really gives another look, we're two different setters, she connects with the hitters, we can grow from each other along with our other two setters."
Van Horn led the Athens Drive HS Jaguars in service aces and assists in each of her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. She earned All-Conference honors twice while being named her team's MVP her senior season.
The setters will begin play on Sept. 6 against the Tritons of Missouri-St. Louis at the Union Volleyball Classic in Union, Tenn.
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