GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Carson-Newman responded from a two-set deficit to spoil the Tusculum women's volleyball 14-match win streak in Pioneer Arena. Coincidently, the last loss on the Greeneville campus was to the Eagles nearly three years ago. This also marked the third consecutive matchup between the programs that needed a decisive fifth set.
The Black and Orange (0-1, 0-1 SAC) lost by scores of 25-13, 25-22, 17-25, 25-27, 14-16 to the Eagles (4-1, 1-0 SAC).
Julia Wheeler was one of three to record a double-double for Carson-Newman, racking up a team-best 19 kills and 13 digs. Blake Cherry joined her teammate with the kill-dig combo, totaling 15 and 14, respectively. Cherry also fired on an efficient .323 hitting percentage. Abbey Hildenbrand notched 25 assists to 12 digs to complete the trio. Additionally, Taylor Keeran contributed 11 kills on a .421 rate, while Skylor Weaver is credited with four total blocks (one solo, three assists). Carlee Allbaugh dished out 33 assists, landing three service aces, and Hayden Barton reached double-digit digs with 11.
Emiah Burrowes tied her career-high 23 kills on a fiery .432 rate, while Carly Sosnowski accounted for half of the Pioneers' digs with 31 to match her collegiate-best. Carli Pigza added 12 kills and match-leading five total blocks (one solo, four assists). In her debut, Martina Foster did a little of everything, recording eight kills on 14 swings (.571), one assist, six digs, and three block assists. TU used three setters throughout the match, each reaching double-figures in assists: Elise Carmichael (28), Madison Adkins (16), and Samantha Bunch (12).
Carson-Newman hit .231 as a team with 66 kills and 26 errors on 173 total attempts. Tusculum hit .231 with 63 kills, 26 errors, and 160 total attacks. The Eagles narrowly led the match in assists (63-62) and service aces (5-4), while the Pioneers held the edge in digs (62-56) and total blocks (8-7).
The match had a combined 25 ties and 10 lead changes throughout the five frames, highlighted by nearly half of each in the second set. Tusculum hit an identical .389 in the two sets won before Carson-Newman used six of their seven blocks to stymie the Pioneers. The Eagles did their best work when it counted most, tallying a mere one attack error in the final frame. Burrowes was an electric 5-for-8 in set five to lead TU, but Wheeler served the final three points to mark the comeback for C-N.
Tusculum steps out conference play as the Pioneers travel to the Tampa Classic this weekend (Sept. 2-3). In the Sunshine State, TU will open with the Spartans, who are the reigning national champion, host, and top team in Division II. The event is scheduled to be capped off against Wheeling and No. 24 Colorado Mesa.
