Oct. 30, 2002

Final Stats

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Western Carolina's Sara Komosinski nearly pulled off a triple-double as the Catamounts took a four-game, Southern Conference volleyball victory at Chattanooga's Maclallan Gym Wednesday night 37-35, 30-24, 19-30, 30-23. The Catamounts have now reached 20 wins for the fifth consecutive season.

Komosinksi had 20 kills, 16 digs and nine blocks to pace the Catamounts (20-8 overall, 11-4 SoCon), while teammate Tricia Eble picked up 17 kills. The Cats had five players with double-digit digs -- Eleanor Talbot with 16, Michelle Gorton and Shari Harder 15 each and Marlayna Stoetzel 12. Harder also had 50 assists to surpass 1,000 for the season (1,023 total). Komosinski also surpassed a milestone this week, tallying her 1,033rd career kill after tonight's match.

Chattanooga dropped to 7-18 and 4-11 despite its best defensive night of the season with 103 digs, including a career-high 31 digs from freshman libero Lindsey Galloway, who leads the league in that category. UTC's Jody Steinberger had 20 kills, while Kari Krouse drilled 13 kills and picked up 20 digs. Kelly Ramsay had 10 kills and Jennifer Norton 10 digs. Emily McGinnis and Jessica Woodby split the setting duties with 32 and 21 assists, respectively.

The Lady Mocs led game one 15-10 and both teams had several shots at the win as it rolled past the 30-point barrier. Harder and Komosinksi combined for a block to put WCU up 36-35, and Komosinski blocked the game-winner. WCU had seven blocks in the game and Gorton and Eble both had six kills.

In game two, Western Carolina roared to a 12-3 lead and UTC got as close as 18-14, but the Cats pulled away. Komosinski had eight kills and six digs.

UTC caught fire in the third game and hit .395 at the net. The Lady Mocs jumped to a 10-3 cushion with blocks from Tracie Grant and Norton. Western Carolina pulled to within 15-13, but the Lady Mocs reeled off seven straight points on McGinnis' serving and won game three.

Chattanooga had a brief 5-2 lead in the fourth game, but the Cats took charge and rolled to a 21-11 lead and never looked back. Eble had eight kills to lead the win.

"Chattanooga really came out ready to play," credited WCU head coach Angell Benson. "Our team just decided they wanted to win, though, and we mentally finished the match. We blocked very solidly tonight and I think that was one of the main things that made the difference in the match."

Western travels to Georgia Southern Sunday, Nov. 3, to take on the Eagles at 2 pm in the Cats' final road match in a five-match stretch. The Lady Mocs meet with the Eagles, also on the road, Saturday.