Eagles eye single season wins record at Mercer Bears Challenge
MACON, Ga. - After winning ten matches for just the second time in program history, the Carson-Newman beach volleyball team looks to tie or surpass their season record for wins at the Mercer Bears Challenge.
MACON, Ga. - After winning ten matches for just the second time in program history, the Carson-Newman beach volleyball team looks to tie or surpass their season record for wins at the Mercer Bears Challenge.
The weekend long tournament begins on Saturday, Mar. 26 with the Eagles facing host Mercer and Division-I Jacksonville, before returning to Bear Beach on Sunday, Mar. 27 to face the State College of Florida and Saint Leo.
Carson-Newman enters the weekend on a three match winning streak and a 10-4 record after pulling off the home sweep over Catawba last weekend. The Eagles knocked off the Indians 4-1 before completing their third 5-0 win of the season. The Eagles have now won eight straight home matches.
The Eagles are two wins away from breaking the program record for most wins in a season. The Eagles went 11-12 in 2016.
Against Division-I competition, Carson-Newman is just 8-38 but the sand Eagles have gone 2-3 this season, including a pair of 4-1 wins over Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State. Of C-N's four losses this season, three of them have come against Division-I foes.
Sierra Still, Mia Toribio, and Morgan Siwiec all earned their 20th victories of their careers against Catawba. In just two seasons in Mossy Creek, Still holds a 21-11 record, playing most of her matches at the no. one or no. two position. Toribio holds a career record of 20-15 and has never recorded a losing season in her three years in Mossy Creek.
Lindsey Geurin continues to move up as the all-time wins leader in program history. The senior holds 25 career victories and has never had a losing season in her three seasons as an Eagle. Geurin currently holds a 10-3 record, giving her back-to-back ten win seasons.
The Mercer Bears enter the weekend with a 2-15 record and on an eight-match losing streak. The Bears do own wins over Tusculum and Jacksonville this season. Elli Merchant & Kacy Oden hold a 6-2 record this season, including a 6-1 record at the no. two position.
This weekend will be the first meeting between the two teams. Carson-Newman is 4-11 all-time against current ASUN teams, including wins over EKU and Jacksonville State this season.
Carson-Newman will face another ASUN team this weekend in Jacksonville. The Dolphins hold a 6-12 record this season.
The two squads have faced off twice in their history, with Jacksonville holding a 2-0 record. Oddly enough, the two last met six years ago to the day on Mar. 26, 2016 at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, SC, a 4-1 win for the Fins.
For the first time in program history, the Eagles will face a junior college program in the State College of Florida. The Manatees enter with a 5-4 record after going 2-16 last season. SCF has recorded a win over Division-II program Eckerd this season.
The weekend wraps up with Carson-Newman taking on Division-II stalwart Saint Leo. The Lions are 13-7 this season, and a seven match win streak, recording a pair of wins over Jacksonville and Division-II powerhouse Florida Southern. The pair of Sydney Omtvedt and Arlaina Stephenson hold an 8-2 record this season, including a 3-0 record at no. one.
The two programs will meet for the second time and for the first time in the regular season this weekend. The Lions took a 5-0 victory at the 2019 AVCA Small College Championships.
Carson-Newman will face Mercer and Jacksonville on Saturday, Mar. 26 with the first match beginning at 11:00 AM. It'll be an early morning for the Eagles on Sunday, Mar. 27, with the squad facing the Manatees at 9:00 AM before wrapping up the weekend against Saint Leo at 3:00 PM. Fans can follow along with results at cneagles.com.
