HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lady Railsplitters (9-8, 5-4 SAC) suffered a straight-set loss to in-state rival Carson-Newman (12-4, 8-1 SAC) Tuesday night at Mary E. Mars Gymnasium as the second place Eagles rolled off set scores of 25-20, 25-15, and 25-23.

Lincoln Memorial was overcome by a stingy Eagle defense that posted 16 block assists and limited the Lady Railsplitters to a .080 attack percentage, their lowest since hitting .054 in the season-opening loss to West Florida. The Lady Railsplitters were able to muster only 28 kills while being forced into 18 swinging miscues. Carson-Newman, meanwhile, hit .169 as a group with 43 kills and 20 errors. The Eagles also accumulated a five-point edge in service aces with an 8-3 advantage in that category.

Tuesday's loss marks the first time that the Lady Railsplitters have been defeated in straight sets by the Eagles since 2009 and the first time since 2008 that Carson-Newman has rolled away with a three-set triumph at Mary Mars Gym. It was only LMU's second loss to the Eagles overall since October 12, 2010.

Sophomore Brooke Fleeman (Nashville, Tenn.) and freshman Kiera Holland (Columbia, S.C.) lead the Lady Railsplitters with seven and six kills, respectively. Holland accounted for nine digs in the match while sophomore setter Abby Cash (New Carlisle, Ohio) posted yet another double-double with 20 assists and 13 digs. Cash also tallied a .429 attacking clip by flooring three kills of her own. Junior Casey Mense (Littleton, Colo.) led the team with 21 scoops, while teammate Allison Beavers (Tomball, Texas) recorded five additional kills in the Lady Railsplitters' losing effort.

Jenna Wilson (13 kills, .375 attack percentage, six block assists), Rachel Harper (13 kills, 16 digs), Kiayna O'Neal (six kills, .417 attack percentage), Kristen Pickett (37 assists, eight digs) and Taylor Lowe (18 digs) led the Eagles to victory.

The Lady Railsplitters were effective defensively at the point of attack, accruing 12 block assists to hold the Eagles below a .200 attack percentage for only the fifth time all season. Holland led LMU with four block assists while MaRanda Boddie (Springfield, Ohio) notched three.

Despite Tuesday's loss, the Lady Railsplitters still hold a 29-16 advantage over the Eagles including a 15-9 edge at Mary Mars Gym.

Lincoln Memorial is set to return to action this upcoming weekend as they prepare for a pair of conference matchups beginning with a trip to Newberry, S.C. Friday evening for a 7 p.m. draw against the Newberry Wolves followed by a bout with Anderson on Saturday.