Nov. 10, 2002

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina volleyball team fell just short of victory against Furman Sunday in the Ramsey Center, losing game five 15-13. The Lady Catamounts finish their home schedule at 9-4 overall and 7-3 in SoCon action.

Western Carolina took the early 9-1 lead in the first game before a kill by Julia Fredrickson gave Furman a point and the serve. The Paladins brought the score within three points twice, but that's as close as they would get as WCU took game one, 30-16.

The Cats had the lead in game two as well, until Furman tied it on a kill by Laura Bush to make it 17-17. WCU took the lead back after a service error by Abby Simon. The Paladins then took the 21-20 lead on a service ace by Bush. Western kept it close on a kill by Stefanie Peters to mark the game at 22-21, but Furman pulled away and won the game on another kill by Bush.

Western again took the lead in the third. A service ace by Alex Arendell marked the game at 9-3, but Furman's Amber Montague responded with a kill to make it 9-4. The Paladins tied the game at 12-12 after an ace by Montague, but two kills in a row by Tricia Eble kept the Cats alive at 14-12. Furman took the lead at 16-15 on a kill by Bush, and the Paladins never looked back as they held on to the lead to win game three 30-25.

Game four started the same, with Western taking the 7-3 lead after a kill by Eble. However, Furman would not go away, keeping the game to within two points for most of the rally. WCU started to pull away after a couple kills by Eble and a pair of aces by Shari Harder. The Cats took game four, 30-21, after an attack error by Caitlin White.

With game five deciding the match, competition was tight. There were seven ties and three lead changes. After a three-point deficit at 10-7, it looked as though the Cats were coming back as they tied it at 10-10 on a kill by Eble. But the Paladins took back the lead and went on to win game five, 15-13, and the match, 3-2.

Eble led all Cats with a career-high 23 kills with a .404 hitting percentage. She added six blocks in the match. Michelle Gorton, Sara Komosinski and Peters all posted double-doubles, with Peters and Alex Arendell leading the team with 17 digs a piece.

Bush led the match with 26 kills, giving up only three errors for a .404 hitting percentage. Simon led the team with 23 digs, while Michelle Cauldwell posted 64 assists in the match.

Western travels to The Citadel next Saturday, Nov. 16, and on to College of Charleston on the 17th, to complete their regular-season play. The matches start at 6 pm and 2 pm, respectively. Furman heads to Charlotte to take on UNCC in non-conference action on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7 pm.