Carson-Newman Volleyball Downs Anderson, 3-1, Saturday At Lincoln Memorial
Harrogate, Tenn. - The Carson-Newman College Volleyball Team
(6-4) got back on the winning track after a six-day layoff Saturday
as it defeated Anderson University (6-3) by a 3-1 (25-17, 24-26,
28-26, 25-20) score. The match was the first of a double-header
hosted by Lincoln Memorial as the Trojans faced off against the
Lady Railsplitters in the nightcap.
"Nikki (James) and Katie (Troyer) were big at the net for us today.
We were able to utilize our middles in transition throughout the
match." said Head Coach Shannon Mincey. "I was also impressed with
Angelle Hayes' performance as she pulled us out of some slumps with
her strings of consecutive serves."
Carson-Newman jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first set behind
three straight kills by senior Caitlin Schlegel (Anacortes, Wash.).
Schlegel tallied four of her five kills for the match while
freshman Angelle Hayes (Brentwood, Tenn.) recorded 11 of her
match-high 31 digs in the first frame as the Lady Eagles cruised to
a 25-17 victory.
In the second stanza, Anderson battled back from a 15-8 deficit
during a seven-point service run by Jamie Lancaster (Fountain Inn,
S.C.) and tied the score at 16 points apiece. With the score
knotted at 22-22, the Trojans scored four of the next six points to
tie the match at one set each.
Carson-Newman jumped back on top after the third set as it used a
.326 (20-5-46) hitting percentage and seven kills and four blocks
by senior Katie Troyer (Plain City, Ohio) to go up two sets to one
in the match. Though the Trojans would make a late run to tie the
set at 24, the Lady Eagles held on for the 28-26 victory.
C-N took the match in the fourth set behind four kills by sophomore
Nikki James (Cookeville, Tenn.). Down 5-2 in the frame, the Lady
Eagles reeled off seven straight points to take a lead 9-5 which
they would never relinquish.
Troyer paced Carson-Newman offensively with 16 kills while James
and freshman Jasmine Clarke (Pelham, Ala.) had 11 and 10 kills,
respectively. James' 11-0-26 (.423) attack percentage was a
career-best.
Hayes recorded a match-high five service aces in addition to her 31
digs, which was the most for a Carson-Newman player in nearly two
years. Senior Stephanie Cutter had a double-double for the Lady
Eagles, dishing-out 37 assists and adding 12 digs while senior
Jessica Schachleiter (Cincinnati, Ohio) brought in 14 digs of her
own.
Anderson was led by Lancaster with 16 kills and 19 digs while
Paulette Rivers (Rock Hill, S.C.) had 14 kills as well. Lindsay
Doggett (Jacksonville, Ala.) also had a double-double with 39
assists and 12 digs.
"Although we got the win, I felt like we were scrambling throughout
the match. We certainly did not play the tempo that we would've
wanted. After we won the first set, we relaxed and coasted for the
rest of the match," said Mincey. "Collectively, we have to improve
to meet the goals we have set for the season."
Carson-Newman have its opportunity to improve when it enters South
Atlantic Conference play Tuesday with a return to Harrogate for the
second time in four days, as the Lady Eagles will take on the Lady
Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial University. First serve is set
for 6:30 p.m.
-Joe Matthews, C-N Sports Information
