The Pioneers (25-6) are the No. 3 seed in the regional and will open against sixth-seeded Carson-Newman College (19-10) on Friday at noon to open the eight-team, single-elimination tournament.
Tusculum has already posted an eight-win improvement from a season ago as the 2009 Pioneers went 18-15 and earned the final at-large spot in last year's regional as TC advanced to the NCAA postseason for the first time in program history.
Head coach Michael Robinson has put together a solid nucleus of talent and youth with a roster that has only one senior, no juniors, five sophomores and eight freshmen on it. The coaching staff set reasonable goals for the team entering the season, which this year's squad far exceeded.
"I am thrilled with the success our team has put together this season," said Robinson, the South Atlantic Conference Co-Coach of the Year. "The key has been talent, but the most important thing has been our team chemistry. Realistically, we entered the season hoping to finish in the top half of the league and compete for a conference championship. With a young team, you expect to hit some stumbling blocks down the stretch, but this group found a way to overcome those and push through. I'm very proud of this group and all they have accomplished."
After a 1-2 start to open the season, the Pioneers finished the rest of the way 24-4, including winning streaks of 10 and seven in a row. Tusculum posted an impressive 16-2 league record with its only two setbacks coming to SAC Champion Wingate University. The 16 wins are the most since the Pioneers joined the SAC in 1999, while also posting an impressive 22-4 in-region worksheet. Of Tusculum's six losses, five have come against teams that are in the 64-team NCAA Tournament field (Wingate, Lees-McRae & Indianapolis).
Tusculum placed a league-high four honorees on the All-Conference Team, including three First Team selections led by SAC Freshman of the Year Ashley Sarmiento. Sarmiento, a 5-11 setter from Dayton, Ohio, led the SAC dishing out 10.30 assists per set (35th in NCAA II/2nd in SE Region), while leading the team with 13 double-doubles.
But one of the more remarkable performances of the year has come from freshman libero/defensive specialist Caitlyn Dean, who has recorded an NCAA Division II record 822 digs this season. Dean, a 5-5 native of Fort Wayne, Ind., is averaging 7.15 digs per set, which is the second-best average in the nation and is on pace to be the third-best in NCAA II history. The All-SAC First Team honoree has accounted for an amazing 13 matches with 30-plus digs.
Leading the Tusculum attack at the net has been All-SAC middle blocker Alyssa Raterman, who is second in the conference with her .345 hitting percentage (41st in NCAA II). The 6-1 sophomore from Urbana, Ohio is averaging 2.11 kills and 0.47 blocks per set.
Sophomore outside hitter Sam Underwood is also enjoying an outstanding season. The 6-1 Muncie, Ind. product is second on the team in kills (2.63 kps), assists (0.52 apg) and service aces (0.28 saps), and third in digs (2.73 dps). The 2010 All-SAC Second Team performer is second on the team with 11 double-doubles.
Friday's quarterfinal match-up with Carson-Newman will be the third meeting this season between the two East Tennessee rivals. Tusculum posted a pair of 3-1 victories over the Lady Eagles this year to even the all-time series at 20-20.
Freshman outside hitter Rhayne Smitherman (Columbus, Ohio) leads the Pioneers with her 2.78 kills per game, while also posting 0.34 blocks per set, third-best on the roster. Her 18 matches with 10-plus kills are tops on the team.
The lone senior on the squad is 6-1 middle blocker Allyson Ray. Ray, a native of Hudson, Fla., leads the Pioneers in blocking with her 0.65 blocks per set. Ray, who recorded her 1,000-career kill earlier this season, is second on the team with her .275 hitting percentage. She is averaging 2.26 kills and 0.54 digs per set.
Sophomore Bailee Price is the team leader in service aces averaging 0.36 per set, which is the fifth-best average in the conference. The 5-9 outside hitter from Fort Wayne, Ind., is fourth on the roster in kills (2.13 kps) and second in digs (3.35 dps).
Sophomore Melanie Gibson (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) has played in all but one match this season, while averaging 2.15 digs per set, which are fifth on the roster.
Rookie middle blocker Kassie Voelker (Morristown, Tenn.) has worked her way into the playing rotation for the Pioneers where he has played in 18 matches, including three starts. She has recorded a .142 hitting percentage, while averaging 0.87 kills and 0.28 blocks per set.
Freshman Tori Welker (Crown Point, Ind.) has recorded 23 service aces in her 29 outings, while also averaging 0.89 digs to go along with a .333 attack percentage on defense.
Also making tremendous contributions this season are sophomore Taylor Wood (Atlanta, Ga.) and freshmen Kamron Adkins (Hixson, Tenn.), Hannah Campbell (Cleveland, Tenn.) and Shealy Bigach (York, S.C.).
The winner of Tusculum/Carson-Newman match will advance to Saturday's regional semifinal, against the winner of the Flagler College/Armstrong Atlantic State University quarterfinal.
Wingate, the top seed in the regional and the 25th-ranked team in the nation (AVCA Division II Poll), is hosting this weekend's regional at Cuddy Arena. Wingate will be providing free on-line video and live statistics of all regional matches.
Visit tusculumpioneers.com for the latest news and info on Tusculum College Athletics.
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