Carson-Newman Volleyball Position Previews: Outside and Right Side Hitters
As the count down to the return of Carson-Newman volleyball ensues, it’s only fitting to get an inside look at the 2025-2026 Eagles volleyball roster. This marks the second part in a series of position previews for Carson-Newman volleyball. This edition will feature the outside hitters.
Video: Emerson Ahsmuhs on the Outside Hitters
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - As the count down to the return of Carson-Newman volleyball ensues, it's only fitting to get an inside look at the 2025-2026 Eagles volleyball roster. This marks the second part in a series of position previews for Carson-Newman volleyball. This edition will feature the outside hitters.
In her freshman season, Emerson Ahsmuhs came onto the floor with fire in her hand, leading the Eagles attack with 293 kills in 2024. With a whole year of experience now under her belt, she believes that her outstanding last season was just the beginning.
"I've been working over the summer with hitting and IQ," Ahsmuhs said. "I'm very comfortable now. Last year, coming in as a freshman from California it was hard to adjust but the girls made it really worth it."
While Carson-Newman returns both top attackers from last season in Ahsmuhs and middle blocker Maddie Hurst, the third, fourth, and fifth best hitters in Taylor Keeran, Taylor Adams, and Blake Cherry have all graduated. This leaves a lot of questions on the front lines for the Eagles, but Ahsmuhs says they are ready for the challenge.
"The game only really works if you have that bond on on the court and off the court and just click with each other so I think coming from last year with the new people coming in we can create that bond and be strong enough to go on that court and kill it no matter what," she said.
Carson-Newman's attack was good enough last season to land them third in the conference in kills (1366) and kills per set (13.01). However, with attack powerhouse Wingate in the conference, the Eagles will have to play like a much more experienced team to take down the team with the third best kills per set mark in the nation.
The Eagles will look to sophomore Annie Dziczkowski to step up into that secondary hitting roll as well as transfer from Costal Carolina Raychel Ehlers who holds the all-time record in wins in beach volleyball for the Chanticleers.
"Annie coming in really helps us out. She's really smart with her IQ of hitting the ball in the court and is really smart with blocking," said Ahsmuhs. "Rachel…was Gatorade player of the year in high school so super excited about that. They're both really smart players no matter the circumstance."
Tightening up the offense will be crucial for the success of the program this year. The Eagles made the fourth most errors in the conference last year and hit right about 0.190 as a team, but Ahsmuhs says the team has been preparing heavily to cut those down.
"I think that's what we struggled with last year. We had a lot of mental errors, which I had as well, so just creating that toughness and moving on is a big thing for us," she said.
As the leading outside for the Eagles, Ahsmuhs will have to take on a leadership role in just her sophomore year.
As an all-SAC second team selection, she knows that the less experienced members of the team will be looking at her for guidance to success.
"When I was a freshman it was hard. I was really nervous going in but my team had my back, so I just want them to know I have their back going into everything."
Ahsmuhs said that the strength of this outside group this year leans on trust.
"We talk to each other about how we can be better on the court and we always lift each other up and love and trust each other…I know this team loves me and trusts me with the ball," she said.
Establishing a heavy block from day one will be crucial for success against tough SAC teams.
The Eagles defense was led last year by 1st team all-SAC selection Maddie Hurst with 102 total blocks on the year, but the Eagles block was middle of the pack in terms of conference standings, slotting themselves fifth in the blocking category.
However, the Eagles return seven of the eleven players who registered a block last season, lining them up for a better finish at the net this coming year.
Ahsmhus says that while the Eagles still have room to grow, she is confident in this group's ability to go far.
"We have a lot of opportunities. We're pretty good this year. We're a young team, but working together and working hard at practice together to get the a trust behind each other.
Carson-Newman volleyball returns to Holt Fieldhouse on September 19 at 7pm for the first time in 2025.
This is the second edition in a series of position previews for Eagles volleyball. The volleyball position previews will return on Thursday, August 28 with the outside hitters.
