GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's volleyball team hosts its two closest rivals, Carson-Newman and Lincoln Memorial, for a pair of weekend contests on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 24-25), respectively.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (8-1, 4-0 SAC) is currently on an eight-match winning streak, the longest stretch since 2014. The Pioneers are off to their best overall start in a decade and in league play since 2010. Danielle Marante's squad was a perfect 3-0 during the week, including sweeps of King and Newberry, while battling in four sets to down Anderson.
Carly Sosnowski and Emiah Burrowes earned SAC AstroTurf Players of the Week honors, winning the defensive and offensive awards, respectively. The former averaged five digs per set as the libero, with a high of 24 digs and two service aces against Anderson. Burrowes finished with a .470 hitting percentage with a total of 45 kills, five aces, and 16 digs.
Carli Pigza also had an impressive stretch, compiling 35 kills on a .368 clip. Raeley Matthews added 24 kills, while Peyton Gash (12), Bailey Parker (10), and Raven Chance (10) also reached double-figures. Elise Carmichael and Catherine Clingan shared the setting responsibilities to collect 74 and 50 assists, respectively. Clingan landed a team-high six aces, followed by Burrowes, Matthews (5), Carmichael (4), and Sosnowski (4).
Defensively, behind Sosnowski's high dig total was Matthews with 33. At the net, Parker was involved with seven blocks (two solo, five assists). Gash and Chance are each credited with five total blocks.
Across Division II, Carmichael's aces per set ratio of 0.97 is third nationally and her grand total of 29 is second. The Pioneers, as a team, are within the top-50 in win-loss percentage (20th; 0.889), aces per set (23rd; 2.21), opponent hitting percentage (29th, .121), and aces (45th; 75).
In SAC rankings, TU leads the league in both aces per set and win-loss percentage. The Pioneers are second in aces and sit in third in assists per set (12.12) and hitting percentage (.204).
LOOKING AHEAD
Carson-Newman (6-6, 1-1 SAC) began the week by sweeping Trevecca Nazarene on Tuesday (Sept. 21) night. The Eagles will come to Greeneville on Friday (Sept. 24) night before hosting UVA Wise less than 24 hours later. Julia Wheeler has played in every set this season, totaling 150 kills. Abbey Hildenbrand has dished out 372 assists to direct the offense. McKenna Hall leads Carson-Newman with 25 aces, followed by Hayden Barton's 18. Barton heads up the dig category with 215, averaging 4.67 per set. Skylor Weaver and Taylor Keeran have made their biggest impacts at the net, notching 30 and 26 total blocks, respectively.
Lincoln Memorial (1-7, 0-3 SAC) has lost its last two matches in five sets, including Tuesday (Sept. 21) at King, and the lone win of the season also went the distance. Richlyn Ross and Ketura Margaret lead the Railsplitters with 64 and 61 kills. respectively. Emily Walter has handed out 205 assists, while Karen Morris and Katie Cardenas have both tallied 11 aces. Defensively, Morris is atop the dig column with 113 digs. Sierrah Lemons is credited with 22 total blocks, nearly doubling her closest teammate.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
At Tusculum, face coverings are required indoors for all individuals when physical distancing cannot be guaranteed, even those who are protected. For volleyball in particular, visiting fans will not be allowed. However, a pass list will be made for the visiting team, which allows two family members per student-athlete.
