Sept. 13, 2003

Final Stats

Birmingham, Ala. - Western Carolina defeated South Alabama, 28-30, 30-19, 30-22, 30-15, to win the Union State Bank/Samford Invitational Saturday night. The Catamounts are now 6-3 on the season and have won their second straight tournament of the year.

WCU (6-3) was led by tournament MVP Shari Harder who had her second triple double of the tournament with 10 kills, 36 assists, and 20 digs in the Catamounts win over South Alabama. Kellyn Thaut, who also earned all-tournament honors, and Sara Komosinski each had 12 kills as WCU took games two, three, and four after dropping the opener.

"We played very well throughout the whole weekend and I'm very proud of this team," head coach Angell Benson said. "Like I said last weekend, everything is coming together the way we need it to right now, and things have turned in the right direction for us. Our girls have done an outstanding job."

Western returns to Cullowhee to host region rival UNC Asheville Tuesday night, Sept. 16, at 7 pm in the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts lead that series, 20-13, and have won the last five straight meetings between the two schools.

Union State Bank/Samford Invitational
All Tournament Team
Shari Harder, WCU, MVP
Kellyn Thaut, WCU
Martina Shields, UAB
Karen Boyd, UAB
Alyssa Whitehead, Samford
Hilary Gary, Samford
Kim Courchesne, USA