VIDEO: Kat Nelson and Addie Smith Interview
DALLAS, N.C. – Carson-Newman beach volleyball captured the first-ever South Atlantic/Conference Carolinas Championship Tournament title after defeating rival Tusculum in a down-to-the-wire match this Saturday.
“Holy cow! This was such a great weekend, and we had strong performances across the board,” said head coach Cat Collins. “It definitely came down to the wire, which is exciting to look back on, but in the moment, we were all shaking. Despite that, it was a great day for us, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team.”
The Eagles entered the second day of the SACC Tournament as the top seed in Pool A, setting up a morning matchup against Emmanuel. Earlier this season, the Lions were one of the few SACC teams to push the Eagles to the brink, with the March 8th contest ending in a narrow 3-2 win for C-N.
This time, however, Carson-Newman left no room for suspense, sweeping Emmanuel 5-0 to punch its ticket to the championship match. Their opponent would be determined by the outcome of the head-to-head between Tusculum and Erskine, which saw the Pioneers advance to set up a classic rivalry clash between two of Tennessee’s historic programs.
The Eagles and Pioneers had met twice during the regular season in a home-and-home series earlier in April. Carson-Newman won both contests, including a close 3-2 victory at Mossy Creek.
History seemed poised to repeat itself in the SACC Championship, with the deciding match once again coming down to the fives pair—Kat Nelson and Addie Smith. After falling behind in the third set, the duo mounted a comeback, capturing the win and securing the championship for the Eagles with a 16-14 finish.
“It all came down to trust between me and Kat [Nelson],” said Addie Smith. “We trust each other, and we just needed to settle in a bit. Once we did, I knew we would start rolling, and that trust is what pushed us through.”
After the Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead, winning the ones and fours pairings, the pressure shifted to the final match. Nelson and Smith delivered in the clutch, sealing the historic victory.
“This entire team has a firm foundation of believers,” said Nelson. “The faith we have in ourselves, our Lord, and each other really shows out there when we’re playing. We can make things happen on the court and play to our strengths.”
Coach Cat Collins and the Eagles concluded the 2025 regular season as South Atlantic/Conference Carolinas Champions, finishing with an overall record of 23-4 and an undefeated mark in conference play.
The Eagles wrapped up the SACC Championship Tournament with the threes pair, Trinity Hafey and Kylee Oldenburger, being named the Most Valuable Pair of the tournament. Additionally, the duos of Ava Fountain/Emerson Ahsmuhs and Kat Nelson/Addie Smith were named to the All-Tournament Pairs list.
As the season winds down, the Eagles have etched their name in history as the first team to win the South Atlantic/Conference Carolinas Beach Volleyball Championship.
Match 1: C-N 5, Emmanuel 0
- Jenny Ille/Paige Halcrow (C-N) def. Izabelea Zukawska/Ellie Jackson (EC) 17-21, 21-19, 15-11
- Ava Fountain/Emerson Ahsmuhs (C-N) def. Cailin Prichard/Aaliyah Lobendahn (EC) 21-19, 21-9
- Trinity Hafey/Kylee Oldenburger (C-N) def. Kaleigh Morawitz/Leah Van Wyngarden (EC) 21-8, 21-10
- Camryn Ehlers/Morgan Foy (C-N) def. Samantha Dibene/Isabel Miller (EC) 21-14, 21-12
- Kat Nelson/Addie Smith (C-N) def. Maya Hedden/Maisy Farrow (EC) 13-21, 21-14, 15-13
Match 2: C-N 3, Tusculum 2
- Hannah Marsh/Brynn Smith (TU) def. Paige Halcrow/Jenny Ille (C-N) 10-21, 21-11, 15-11
- 2. Ava Fountain/Emerson Ahsmuhs (C-N) def. Mia Johnson/Kassidy Mercado (TU) 21-10, 21-12
- 3. Trinity Hafey/Kylee Oldenburger (C-N) def. Morgan Willis/Ryann Gallagher (TU) 21-15, 21-11
- 4. Kyla Oppenhuis/Landry Tea (TU) def. Camryn Ehlers/Morgan Foy (C-N) 21-16, 18-21, 15-13
- 5. Kat Nelson/Vanessa Colling (C-N) def. Nyah Goss/Katie Murphy (TU) 21-18, 19-21, 16-14
Accolades from the 2025 Season:
Although the 2025 regular season has concluded with the SACC Tournament, the Eagles’ journey isn’t over yet, as they now prepare for the National Tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala., taking place April 17–19.
“We need to enjoy this moment,” said Collins. “It’s a goal we wrote down on sticky notes—it’s been on our fence outside the court all season. It’s been our focus, and enjoying the fact that our hard work paid off is a great feeling. Knowing that we can still do more is motivational for the team. I hope we keep our confidence and ride that into next weekend.”
To keep up with Carson-Newman Beach Volleyball, follow the team on social media @CN_Eagles on X and Instagram, or follow Carson-Newman Athletics on Facebook. You can also visit cneagles.com.