Food Lion SAC Volleyball Championship Final: #2 Carson-Newman College Sweeps #1 Catawba College, 3-0
November 10, 2002

Courtesy Carson-Newman College, Tusculum College Sports Information Offices

GREENEVILLE, TN - #2 Carson-Newman College defeated #1 Catawba College in the finals of the 2002 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Volleyball Tournament in Alpine Arena today in three games. The Lady Eagles advance to the NCAA Division II Regionals for the first time in school history.

Carson-Newman improved to 30-6 overall with the tournament victory. This is the second time the Eagles have won the SAC Tournament. They defeated Presbyterian College in the event in 2000. The Eagles regular season 2002 SAC title was their first ever as well as their 30-win season as being a member at the NCAA Division II level. Catawba fell to 24-7 on the season.

After five ties and two lead changes, Carson-Newman won the first game by a score of 30-24. After the game was tied 19-19, the Eagles went on an 8-to-2 run to lead 27-21. The teams then traded points and the Eagles won game one, 30-24.

After an early 2-2 tie, the Eagles went on a 9-2 run to lead by seven points (11-4). The Eagles maintained a comfortable advantage for most of the game and held an eight-point lead on five different occasions. Catawba fought back late in game two cutting the deficit to three points (27-24) but the Eagles once again were strong and reeled off three unanswered points to win game two, 30-24.

Game three was extremely close. The last stanza saw seven ties and four lead changes. The Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead only to see Catawba reel off six straight points to tie the game at 6-6. After the score was tied at 8-8, Catawba scored seven straight points to lead 15-8. Carson-Newman regrouped and went on a 14-to-7 run to tie the match at 22-22. The momentum then shifted to the Indians as Catawba scored three straight points to take a 25-22 advantage. Once again the Eagles battled back and after out scoring Catawba 5-to-2, tied the game at 27-27. After three ties and as many lead changes, Carson-Newman took the final game by a score of 32-30.

First team All-SAC member Kendra Rickertsen (Pelham, AL) led the Eagles with 19 kills. Blaire Young (Morristown, TN) had a match high 28 digs while second team All-SAC selection Sherry Trimble (Marion, IN) provided the Eagles with 45 assists in the victory.

Heather Hawkins (Troutman, NC) led Catawba with 13 kills followed by first team All-SAC performer Hope Miller's (Newton, NC) 19 digs. First team All-SAC setter Lettie Wilkes (Williamsport, MD) supplied the Indian offense with 38 assists in the contest.

Carson-Newman  30 30 32 
Catawba        24 24 30

Kills: Carson-Newman - Rickertson 19; Catawba - Hawkins 13

Digs: Carson-Newman - Blair Young 28; Catawba - Miller 19

Assists: Carson-Newman - Trimble 45; Catawba - Wilkes 38

Blocks: Carson-Newman - Jennifer Holmes 5; Catawba - Elizabeth Hewitt 5

Service Aces: Carson-Newman - Erin Collins 1; Catawba - Wilkes 2

Time 1:40

A - 450