Sept. 6, 2003
Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina shut out Tennessee State, 30-17, 30-24, 30-20, to win the Catamount Clash for the third consecutive year Saturday evening in the Ramsey Center. The Cats, who improve to 3-3 on the season, did not give up a game throughout the tournament. Tennessee State falls to 3-4 with the loss.
It was the Catamount freshman who came through again for Western, with Kellyn Thaut and Heather Koontz posting 13 kills apiece. Koontz led the pack with a .458 hitting percentage in the match and accounted for 15 points for the Cats. Harder dished out 36 assists, adding 12 digs and two blocks. Sophomore Ellie Talbot led the field with 14 digs.
Jennifer Corral led the Tigers with nine kills on 32 attacks, adding 13 kills and two blocks. Setter Shelby Myers handed out 23 assists, adding eight digs and two blocks.
Tennessee State posted a mere .058 hitting percentage to WCU's .224. Western also fielded a strong defense in the match with 65 total digs and seven team blocks, while TSU had 56 digs and six team blocks.
"I'm extremely pleased with the way we played this weekend," head coach Angell Benson said. "These girls played well together and took advantage of key scoring opportunities today. Our freshmen are really doing well, which is what I expected out of them when the season started. Things are coming together exactly the way we need them to right now."
At the conclusion of the match, a seven-member all-tournament team was announced, which included Katherine Jensen and Sarah Bennett from Coastal Carolina, Catherine Armwood and Jennifer Corral from Tennessee State and Western Carolina's Kellyn Thaut, Heather Koontz and Shari Harder.
The Catamounts return to action next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12-13, at the Samford University Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. Western faces Samford at 7 pm on Friday, UAB at 12:30 pm on Saturday and South Alabama at 5 pm on Saturday.
Catamount Clash All-Tournament Team
Coastal Carolina, Katherine Jensen
Coastal Carolina, Sarah Bennett
Tennessee State, Catherine Armwood
Tennessee State, Jennifer Corral
Western Carolina, Kellyn Thaut
Western Carolina, Heather Koontz
Western Carolina, Shari Harder
