By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
WALESKA, Ga. – The Eagles completed a perfect regular-season home schedule at 12-0 on Tuesday night after making quick work of the Golden Tigers of Brenau (Ga.), 3-0 (25-8,25-9,25-15) on Senior Night for nine student-athletes.
Reinhardt has now won 18-consecutive games and maintains its hold on the top spot within the Appalachian Athletic Conference (17-0) while improving to 24-2.
"Tonight was a night to celebrate our seniors, families and their teammates… And we did an amazing job doing just that," head coach Brian Goodhind said. "Everyone was also working hard to help Tessa get to her 1,000th kill as a Reinhardt Eagle and it was awesome watching everyone count down as Carlee achieved her 4,000th assist in her collegiate career. I've been very blessed as a coach and I'm thankful to Coach Popp and President Mallard for giving me the opportunity to come in and bring a new culture into this volleyball program. Great job going 1-0 tonight, and we will let our girls celebrate tonight, but we will be back to the grind tomorrow afternoon at practice. To God goes all the Glory. #WePlayFor11."
The energy was high inside the Brown Athletic Center as family and friends gathered to celebrate the careers of the Eagle seniors and cheer on the team to victory as it steamrolls its way to another AAC title and postseason play.
The result was inevitable in this scenario after Reinhardt combined to hit .403 for the match with 36 kills – 16 of which came from Tessa Colden – as she surpassed the 1,000-kill mark in an Eagle uniform in set two.
The momentum on both sides of the net continued into the third-and-final stanza after the hometown team surrendered just 17 points combined in the first two sets. Play after play, the fans and Eagles alike knew what was coming as Carlee Baxter was rewarded with a 5-1 lineup to hit a historic mark at home.
And then it happened.
Baxter hit the 4,000-assist mark with her 26th dime of the match, and it was ironically to Colden as well.
Reinhardt showed joy and elation each step of the way, and did so as a collective unit, both on the floor and in the bench area.
Baxter pulled together another double-double with 10 digs – tied with team-high with Kelley Adkins.
Alma Vazquez-Nunez continued to be strong at the serving line with three aces.
Scoring Leaders on Senior Night vs. Brenau (Ga.)
Kills Tessa Colden (16), Brittany Taksas (6), Isabelle Breitbarth (5)
Aces Alma Vazquez-Nunez (3), Tessa Colden (2), Kelley Adkins (2)
Blocks Carlee Baxter (4), Isabelle Breitbarth (4), Isabelle Diaz (3)
Assists Carlee Baxter (26), Mar Vives (5), Holly Heath (1)
Digs Carlee Baxter (10), Kelley Adkins (10), Tessa Colden (9)
Four conference matches remain on the slate, beginning with a pair in Kentucky over the weekend, starting with Kentucky Christian on Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
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