Oct. 24, 2004

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Sophomore outside hitter Heather Koontz and senior Stefanie Peters both finished with double-doubles as Western Carolina survived a five-game marathon, defeating Davidson 3-2 (22-30, 30-20, 34-32, 17-30, 16-14) in Southern Conference action Sunday afternoon.

Koontz tallied a season-high 13 kills, one off her career-high, to accompany her 16 digs as Western ended a three-game losing skid. She also had five block assists for the Cats. Davidson was led by the triple-double by freshman Katie Pierucci. She finished with 26 kills, 35 set assists, and 16 digs. Liz Williamson also recorded 26 kills for the Wildcats in the losing effort.

After Davidson and Western split the opening two games, the Catamounts pulled out a back-and-forth third game which featured 13 ties and five lead changes. Davidson first erased two game points to even the score at 29-all. The Catamounts nudged ahead with scores of 30-29, 31-30 and 32-31 before finally taking the game on a block followed by a Wildcat attack error, 34-32.

Davidson responded quickly in game four, notching six of the first seven points. The Wildcats never trailed and held Western Carolina to only five kills while rolling to the 30-17 win.

In the decisive fifth game, back-to-back blocks helped give Davidson a slim 12-9 advantage. The host Wildcats reached 13-11 only to see Western rattle off three straight points to earn a match point at 14-13. A kill by sophomore Liz Williamson leveled the score at 14-apiece, but a putaway by WCU¹s Meredith Harmon and a Davidson attack error clinched the match for Western, 16-14.

Peters' double-double, totaling 10 kills and 20 digs in the win. She added a pair of assists and service aces in the win. Freshman Meredith Harmon poured in 11 kills and two and a half total blocks in the winning effort, with Kate Williard leading in assists with 22. Defensively for the Catamounts, junior Ellie Talbot dug 22 balls to lead the way.

Western returns home on Tuesday for "Halloween Comes Early" as they host East Tennessee State at the Ramsey Center on October 26.