Sept. 21, 2002
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina, a team picked to finish seventh in the Southern Conference volleyball preseason voting, has remained on top and extended their winning streak by defeating Davidson, 3-0 Saturday in the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts are now 10-4 (4-0), while Davidson dropped to 7-6 (1-1) for the season.
WCU took control in the first game, led by Michelle Gorton with 5 kills and 12 attacks. Tricia Eble served for six straight points to break away from the Wildcats, 8-4. Davidson battled back to get within one point on a service ace by Roberta Quis to make it 14-15, but that?s as close as they would get to taking the lead in the match as Western pulled away again and eventually took the first contest, 30-23.
In the second, the Catamounts pulled away early, taking a 14-5 lead, assisted by a pair of aces by Eble and one from Gorton. Gorton led the way again, coming out strong with six kills and 16 attacks. Stefanie Peters led WCU defensively with six digs for the game. Rebecca Teichgraeber contributed three kills and 15 attacks, while Quis added 11 attacks to help the Wildcats' cause, but the Catamounts were too strong defensively for Davidson to catch up. Western took the second game, 30-15.
It was Davidson who would take the early lead in the third, 7-4 after a service ace by Teichgraeber. However, Western came back to tie it at 9-9 with a kill by Peters on an assist by Shari Harder. The Wildcats tried to keep it close, but some powerful serving helped the Catamounts along. Two aces by Peters and an attack error by Latisha Chapman set up Peters to serve for the match point. Eble made the kill to end the game, 30-18, and the match.
"The team really executed well," praised head coach Angell Benson. "This was definitely one of our best defensive games we've played so far. These last two games were an excellent way to kick off our home conference schedule."
Gorton led in kills for Western with 12 and in attacks with 33. The team netted 12 service aces in the match, four coming from Eble and three from Gorton. Harder led the Catamounts with 33 assists and 14 digs. Western had 53 total digs for the match (17.67 per game). As of Sept. 15, WCU stood in fourth place nationally in digs per game, averaging 19.68 per contest.
Chapman led the Wildcats with nine kills and 25 attacks. Nicole Tonelli led in assists with 21 and Tamara Gallen led Davidson in digs with 10.
The Catamounts remain in first in the SoCon ahead of Georgia Southern, the only other undefeated team, who is 3-0. WCU faces in state conference rival Appalachian State on Sept. 25 at 7 pm in Boone. The Catamounts' next home match is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, when they will host Chattanooga at 7 pm.
