September 30, 2025

Four Eagles log eight or more kills grab first home win against Emory & Henry

Addie Smith led the charge with 10 kills while the defense successfully scrambled to set up a dominant win at Holf Fieldhouse.

Carson-Newman

12-2,3-2 SAC

Emory & Henry

3-11,0-5 SAC

Final	1	2	3	T
Carson-Newman 12-2,3-2 SAC	25	25	25	3
Emory & Henry 3-11,0-5 SAC	19	20	10	0

VIDEO: Addie Smith Postgame

VIDEO: Trinity Hafey Postgame

HIGHLIGHTS

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Addie Smith led the charge with 10 kills while the defense successfully scrambled to set up a dominant win at Holf Fieldhouse.

Carson-Newman volleyball was searching for its first win at home in 300 days, and they got it dominantly, sweeping the Emory and Henry Wasps with a fifteen-point victory in set three.

"I think we were just ready to break that streak and just kind of start fresh at home," said Addie Smith following the match.

It was a close set one with a 10-9 score midway through the set. Back-to-back three-point runs at the service line from Blair Cherry and Trinity Hafey set the Eagles up 19-11. Consistent production from Maddie Hurst and Addie Smith set C-N over the edge, though. With five kills apiece, the sophomore junior duo overcame the three blocks put up by the Wasps to come out with a 25-19 victory.

The Carson-Newman attackers flipped places in set two. While Smith and Hurst were the big producers in set one, Emerson Ahsmuhs and Annie Dziczkowski stepped in to have their fun. The five kills from both of the sophomores were beautifully set up by the gritty C-N defense, which put up 16 digs in the second set. Blair Cherry and Ahsmuhs both racked up five digs each to keep long rallies alive, which the Eagles were then able to capitalize on. Despite a late charge by the Wasps, Carson-Newman hit .370 in the second set to win 25-20 and take a two-set lead.

Although C-N was up two sets, junior captain Trinity Hafey said her team knew there was more to give.

"We just knew that we weren't playing like us and our chemistry wasn't like us and just because we were winning doesn't mean that we were doing the things that we should have been doing. So,we really tried to hone in on our skills and our technique and I think it showed in the third," said Hafey.

In set three, the Wasps got just 11 chances to serve, as the Eagles came out reinvigorated. Five different players for the Eagles notched two or more kills, which kept the E&H defense on their toes. With just one attack error made in the third set, the Eagles hit .375 and combined for three team blocks. Both Maddie Hurst and Blair Cherry were the drivers of the blocking effort, while Avery Sziksai stepped in to serve and put up two service aces in a seven-point run from the service line. C-N would close the door on the game with a 25-10 victory in set three.

With 40 team digs, three Eagles recorded eight or more digs, including team captain Trinity Hafey, who was also flawless from the service line while dishing three assists.

"We just always say relentless pursuit of the ball. You can't let the ball hit the floor, and I know my team will back me up if I can lay my body on the line," Hafey said postgame.

Addie Smith was the team's leader on the attacking front. The junior put away ten kills while hitting .450 throughout the three sets with a pair of blocks and a service ace to tie a bow on the match.

"I'm really just working on everything in practice, coming and getting extra reps and then just my teammates having my back. A lot of encouragement today, so that really helped," Smith said following the game.

Carson-Newman matched the best blocking team in the conference with six blocks a piece to hold E&H to a .101 hitting percentage. Hurst, Cherry, and Bella Cardello were all tied for the team lead with three blocks each.

The Eagles threw punches from every side of the court this evening, with Ahsmuhs (9), Dziczkowski (8), Hurst (8), and Smith (10) all grabbing sizable kill counts in the match. Blair Cherry was able to provide on the setting front with 35 assists. Every Eagle that took over 10 swings in the match hit above .230.

With this win, Carson-Newman moves to 12-2 overall and 3-2 in SAC play. On Friday, they travel to South Carolina to take on the team projected to be third in the conference, Anderson. The Trojans have a 2-1 record in SAC play and are coming fresh off a sweep of Mars Hill.

Hafey knows this victory over the Wasps will be a springboard for Anderson, but knows they have to stay focused.

"Keep working through practice. We scout them and we know what we got to do. So, just executing our game plan and each team's different, but we still got to be our team every game," said Hafey.

Carson-Newman volleyball returns to the floor Friday, October 3, 2025 in Anderson, South Carolina at 7:00 PM. Eagles volleyball will return to Hol Fieldhouse on Tuesday, October 14, at 6:00 PM for their second match of the season against Tusculum.