JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- The Tusculum women's volleyball team traveled for the grudge match against Carson-Newman on Tuesday night (Oct. 18), but fell short of the goal.

The Pioneers (8-9, 8-6 SAC) dropped the match by scores of 25-21, 17-25, 19-25, 22-25 to the Eagles (19-3, 12-2 SAC).

Carson-Newman had three players reach double-digits in kills, led by 18 from Julia Wheeler. She was joined by Blake Cherry (12) and Skylor Weaver (10). Abbey Hildenbrand dished out 45 assists as the setter, while libero Hayden Barton finished with a pair of service aces for the home team. Five Eagles notched over 10 digs in the contest: Barton (18), Cherry (12), Wheeler (12), Hildenbrand (11), and Bennett McCombs (11). Emmagrace Cobb and Hildenbrand were forces at the net, recording seven and six block assists, respectively.

Peyton Gash was the lone Pioneer to eclipse the 10-dig plateau, notching 12 on a .333 hitting clip. Samantha Bunch led the setting duo with 16 assists, followed by 11 from Elise Carmichael. Carmichael, Carly Sosnowski, and Lauren Xayavong each landed a pair of aces, rounded out by Amiranee Au's single service score. Sosnowski scooped up a match-high 19 digs, alongside 11 digs from both Emiah Burrowes and Bunch. Martina Foster assisted in six blocks, while Gash was also involved in six (one solo, five assists).

Carson-Newman hit .149 as a team with 52 kills and 29 errors on 154 total attempts. Tusculum hit .091 with 39 kills, 26 errors, and 143 total attacks. The Eagles led the match in assists (48-36) and digs (69-61), while the Pioneers had the advantage in aces (7-6) and total blocks (12-11).

Tusculum returns to the Jefferson City campus to take part in the SAC/PBC Crossover event, hosted by the Eagles. The Pioneers will begin the weekend (Oct. 21-22) series against the reigning region champion Augusta (17-5, 9-2 PBC) on Friday at 4 p.m. from Holt Fieldhouse.