GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's volleyball team looks to return to its winning form for the final two matches of the regular season. The Pioneers will stay in-state and travel to archrival Carson-Newman on Friday (Nov. 12) and Lincoln Memorial Saturday (Nov. 13).
Tusculum has already clinched a top-four seed and hosting duties for a SAC Tournament quarterfinal match. The Pioneers' championship fate is dependent upon winning-out and numerous tiebreaker scenarios.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
Tusculum (17-4, 13-3 SAC) dropped a pair of three-set matches at Newberry and Anderson, which slid the Pioneers into a four-way tie for first place.
Raeley Matthews led the TU offense with 17 kills, followed by Emiah Burrowes (15), and Bailey Parker (11). Parker was the most efficient of the trio, hitting on a .240 clip. Elise Carmichael headed up the assist category with 30, followed by Catherine Clingan's 16. Matthews landed a team-best five service aces. Carmichael (3), Carly Sosnowski (3), and Lydia Collins (1) rounded out the column.
Defensively, Sosnowski scooped up 29 digs across the six sets, as Burrowes (15) and Matthews (14) also reached double-figures. Carli Pigza had the most success at the net and is credited with four total blocks (one solo, three assists). Parker also recorded three block assists and Burrowes collected one solo and two assists.
Of note, Sosnowski needs only 37 digs to reach 1,000 in her short Tusculum career. Additionally, Burrowes and Matthews sit at seven double-doubles each.
Carmichael leads Division II in aces per set (0.72) and is sixth in total aces (54). Sosnowski is averaging 5.08 digs per set, good for 45th nationally. As a team, the Pioneers sit within the top-50 in aces per set (20th; 2.10), opponent hitting percentage (31st; 0.136), and win-loss percentage (34th; 0.810).
Across the SAC, TU leads the league in aces per set. The Pioneers are second in win-loss percentage and opponent hitting percentage, while ranked third in assists per set (11.94), hitting percentage (0.216), kills per set (12.48), and service aces (166).
LOOKING AHEAD
Carson-Newman (17-12, 10-6 SAC) is coming off of a five-set loss to Catawba heading into the final weekend of the season, which will see the Eagles host Tusculum and travel to UVA Wise. Julia Wheeler has provided the bulk of the offense with 396 kills, a 3.54 per set rate. Abbey Hildenbrand is 50 assists shy of 1,000 for the season and is in a three-way tie for the team lead in service aces. She, Hayden Barton, and Skylor Weaver all have 37 aces, just one ahead of McKenna Hall. Carson-Newman leads the SAC in service aces. Barton has played in every set at the Eagles' libero, collecting 497 digs. At the net, Taylor Keeran is credited with 90 total blocks (13 solo, 77 assists). The Pioneers won a five-set thriller over Carson-Newman back in September.
Lincoln Memorial (8-18, 4-12 SAC) also dropped a five-set decision over the weekend and will face the UVA-Wise/Tusculum slate in reverse order of the Eagles. Ketura Margaret (212) is the lone Railsplitter with over 200 kills this season. Kristen Moehring's 187 kills have come on a .230 hitting percentage. Emily Walter has dished out 549 assists, followed by 297 from Chloe Britton. Sevgi Koyuncu leads LMU with 24 aces, just ahead of Britton's 22 and Karen Morris with 20. Defensively, Koyuncu is the digs leader with 465, while Sierrah Lemons has totaled 90 blocks (15 solo, 75 assists). The Pioneers claimed a four-set win over the Railsplitters to end September.
Links to live stats and video for Tusculum University athletic events can be found through tusculumpioneers.com.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
At Carson-Newman, though not required for entry into their athletic facilities, facial coverings are encouraged for arena patrons.
Per Lincoln Memorial, spectators are strongly encouraged to wear masks and face coverings, regardless of their vaccination status.
