GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum women's volleyball team returns after a 464-day hiatus to battle the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on Thursday (Feb. 25) night in Hickory, North Carolina.
The 2021 spring season will feature just 10 South Atlantic Conference matches across the shortened campaign. Head coach Danielle Marante relies on eight returners and 11 freshmen to build upon the success of last season. TU earned its first winning season (15-14) since 2014 and finished tied fifth in the SAC standings during Marante's first year at the helm of the Pioneers.
THIS WEEK
Lenoir-Rhyne is the season-opening opponent for TU. The Bears were picked to finish seven in the conference preseason poll, led by first team honoree Taylor Prall. Prall led the league with 404 kills and at a 3.88 per set rate. Tusculum leads the all-time series history over LR, 29-21, since the first meeting in 1996.
Lenoir-Rhyne has announced that no fans or parents from visiting teams will be permitted at its home events this spring.
MEET THE TEAM
Emiah Burrowes, a Wesley Chapel, N.C. native, burst onto the college scene, racking up six postseason honors: TU Female Freshman of the Year, AVCA Region Freshman of the Year, AVCA First Team All-Region, SAC Freshman of the Year, SAC All-Conference Second Team, and SAC All-Freshman Team. The outside hitter saw action in 94 sets and 27 matches, collecting a team-high 333 kills, 888 attempts (9th in the SAC), 217 digs, 34 total blocks (5 solo, 29 assists), 14 aces, and 11 assists. Burrowes' 3.54 kills per set rate ranks sixth in the TU season records and third in the conference, while her 9.45 attempts per set average is seventh in the program season marks and third for a career. She notched two 22-kill outings and one contest with 18 digs.
Gabby Gray, a Lafayette, Ga. native, appeared in all 29 matches and 106-of-107 sets for Tusculum during her junior season. The outside hitter finished 2019 with 306 kills, 945 attempts (6th in the SAC), 342 digs, 36 total blocks (5 solo, 31 assists), 22 service aces, and 15 assists. Gray recorded a season-high 23 kills and career-best 23 digs in a home match against Mars Hill. She also racked up 23 kills at Catawba. Gray enters her senior season second all-time in career kill attempts per set at TU (9.57). As a biology major, she has earned the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award each year as a Pioneer.
Sydney Byrd, from Bluff City, Tenn., saw action in seven matches and 21 sets during her first collegiate season. The right side hitter totaled 26 kills on a .244 hitting percentage, 10 digs, and eight total blocks, recording a career-high eight kills against rival Carson-Newman.
Elise Carmichael, an Avon, Ind. resident, was named to the SAC All-Freshman Team alongside Burrowes. As the primary setter for the Pioneers in 2019, she played in all 29 matches and in 105 sets, collecting 659 assists (5th in the SAC), five kills, 47 aces (t-10th for TU season; 5th in the SAC), and 159 digs. Her 6.28 assists per set ratio was good for fifth in the league and .45 aces per frame was sixth (8th for TU season). Carmichael recorded a career-high 37 assists at Lenoir-Rhyne and season-best five aces in the upset at Division I USC Upstate.
Catherine Clingan also spent time as the TU setter in 74 sets across 21 matches. The Franklin, Tenn. native finished the season with 343 assists, 36 aces, 89 digs, and one kill. As a junior, Clingan's .49 aces per set average was second across the conference, tied third for a TU season, and 15th in the NCAA. In the match at Catawba, she recorded a season-high 28 assists and set a new career record with seven aces (t-2nd for a TU five-set match). Clingan also earned a spot on the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award list as an accounting major.
A middle blocker from Knoxville, Tenn., Lydia Collins missed the 2019 season due to injury and will fight for time during her junior campaign.
Carli Pigza saw action in 103 sets across all 29 matches, finishing the season with 190 kills, 61 digs, and 58 total blocks. The middle blocker from Fort Mill, South Carolina notched a season-best 11 kills on four separate occasions. As an art major, Pigza collected a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award for her performance in the classroom.
Carly Sosnowski, a libero from Oxford, Fla., was impressive during her first season at Tusculum, after transferring over from Division I Florida International. As a sophomore, she played in 27 matches and 101 sets, totaling 76 assists, 26 aces, and a team-best 486 digs (7th in the SAC). Her 4.81 digs per set average ranked 11th in TU history for a single season and fourth among the conference. Sosnowski posted 24 double-figure dig outings, with 12 reaching at least 20. She is credited with a career-high 29 digs at Anderson. Sosnowski was named to the Bobcat Classic All-Tournament Team in her first weekend as a Pioneer and also earned team MVP honors. She collected D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award laurels as a psychology - behavioral health major.
Eleven freshmen will be looking to make their mark for the Pioneers in this altered season.
Jensen Capo, an outside hitter from Tequesta, Fla., graduated from Jupiter High School where she was a team captain and an all-conference performer, reaching districts in 2020.
Raven Chance, a Leoma, Tenn. native, graduated from Loretto High School, lettering four seasons in basketball and three in volleyball. The middle blocker/right side hitter was named all-district once and all-region twice. Chance was a part of two district, one region, and one state championships.
Peyton Gash, from Lexington, Ky., lettered four seasons in volleyball at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. The right side hitter earned consecutive all-region, all-district, and district tournament MVP selections during the three-year run as district champions. Gash was also named to the all-state team twice, reaching the state tournament after back-to-back region titles. Her name was found in the 2017 All-America watchlist as well. Academically, Gash collected Academic All-State honors every year and National Honor Society accolades for two years.
Kayli Hilliard, a middle blocker from DeKalb, Ill., was a member of the 2018 conference champion team at DeKalb High School.
Abbie Holt graduated from Cypress Bay High School and lettered four years in volleyball as a setter. The Sunrise, Florida native was a three-time district champion and twice a team captain. Holt also tallied two honorable mentions and was a BCAA All-Star.
Camryn Hughes graduated early from George Washington High School in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia and joined the Pioneers this spring. Lettering four seasons in volleyball, she was a member of three sectional and regional championship teams. Hughes also reached the state tournament three years and won the title in 2019. The outside hitter/defensive specialist was named first team all-state and all-conference three times. As a team captain, Hughes racked up over 1,200 kills, 800 digs, and 230 aces in her career.
Peyton Jackson was an Under Armour All-America nominee for Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School. The Forest City, N.C. native won three-straight conference championships, alongside two all-conference selections and league Player of the Year. As a middle blocker, Jackson was a first team All-Region pick in 2018 and NCVBCA All-Region choice in 2019. She also earned all-county honors for two seasons and was the top blocker in the state, according to MaxPreps.
Kyndall Kalb, a Summerfield, Fla. native, graduated from Vanguard High School. She lettered four seasons in volleyball and once in weightlifting. Kalb earned all-county honors every season and was the most valuable player in the Florida All-Star game. The outside hitter won four district and county championships, three regional titles, and one state championship, while finishing as the state runner-up twice.
Natasha Mazzone is the all-time assist, ace, and win leader at Ogden International High School in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois. The three-time team MVP was the first freshman to ever make the varsity squad and started as the setter. Mazzone completed two undefeated conference seasons, along with three consecutive regional championship matches.
Bailey Parker lettered four seasons in volleyball at Trinity Catholic High School. The middle blocker from Gainesville, Fla. won the 2019 district and regional titles, while finishing as the state runner-up.
Morgan Smith graduated from her hometown Elizabethton High School, lettering four seasons in volleyball. The right side hitter broke the school's assist record as a junior and kill mark during her senior campaign, totaling over 1,000 of each. Smith collected three-straight all-conference and all-region selections. She was also a four-time district runner-up and region runner-up twice.
