October 24, 2024

Eagles Face [RV] Lenoir-Rhyne in Huge Conference Test

Carson-Newman Volleyball returns home for its biggest conference test against Lenoir-Rhyne, which received votes in the most recent AVCA Coaches' Poll.

[RV] Lenoir-Rhyne

19-2, 10-2 SAC

Carson-Newman

14-6, 10-2 SAC

Final	1	2	3	T
[RV] Lenoir-Rhyne 19-2, 10-2 SAC	20	16	18	0
Carson-Newman 14-6, 10-2 SAC	25	25	25	3

MATCH NOTES

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Volleyball returns home for its biggest conference test against Lenoir-Rhyne, which received votes in the most recent AVCA Coaches' Poll.

The match is a battle for the top spot in the South Atlantic Conference standings. Lenoir-Rhyne (19-1, 10-1 SAC) leads the conference, while Carson-Newman (13-6, 9-2 SAC) looks to improve its standings as the season begins to encroach on the South Atlantic Conference Tournament in mid-November.

In a rematch of the 2023 SAC Volleyball Tournament's first round, Lenoir-Rhyne comes into the contest on a red-hot pace, only dropping one match 20 matches into the 2024 campaign.

The Bears have won 58 sets to just 13 set losses this season and have won 17 straight sets dating back to a road contest at Lincoln Memorial on Oct. 5. The Bears' lone loss came at home against Wingate in four sets, of which L-R took the first frame before dropping the next three to the Bulldogs.

Individually, the Bears are led by junior right side Kayli Cleaver with 226 kills, enough for 3.18 per set. The top setter for Lenoir-Rhyne is a combination of Sydney Karjala and Rachel Wildermuth, who each have over 300 assists on the year, and both tally over four assists per set. Besides the duo of setters, no other Bear has over 54 assists.

Defensively, six different Bears have over two digs per set, but none with over three. Senior Jenna Vogen tops the group with 207 digs for 2.96 per set. Up front, Averie Dale is the top middle for L-R with 1.24 blocks per set, enough to rank second in the category in the South Atlantic Conference. Dale has tallied 88 total blocks, with 16 of those being solo.

Carson-Newman leads the all-time series 42-30 but has dropped the previous two meetings, both last season and both coming on the road in Hickory, as the Bears broke out the brooms twice in the same season. The Eagles' fortunes turn against L-R inside the confines of Holt Fieldhouse as Carson-Newman has won the last five meetings with the Bears in its home arena in 2017.

The Eagles have benefited from recent performances from freshman Maddie Hurst (Blaine, Tenn.) and libero Bennett McCombs (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.). Hurst collected three solo blocks in the most recent match against Newberry, and McCombs has collected over 20 digs in three of her last four outings.

First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. from Holt Fieldhouse in Jefferson City. Students, faculty, and anyone under 18 can get in for free, while everyone else can enter the door for $5. Those not making the trip to Mossy Creek can watch the match with a subscription to FloSports. You can follow the match live for free by following @CN_Eagles on X.

To keep up to date with Carson-Newman Volleyball, follow us on social media @CN_Eagles on X and Instagram or Facebook at Carson-Newman Athletics.