Oct. 15, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina fought off five game points in the third frame to take a 2-1 lead over the visiting Elon Phoenix, but could not capitalize on that momentum, falling in five games, 3-2 (30-21, 22-30, 32-34, 30-18, 15-11) Saturday night in Southern Conference volleyball action in historic Reid Gym.

Led by junior Heather Koontz' team-high 15 kills, Western had three players record double-doubles. Koontz added 10 digs and three block assists in the losing effort. Senior Ellie Talbot killed a dozen while recording a match-high 25 digs and Koontz' classmate, setter Meghan Boyle, rounded out the double-double trio with 45 set assists and 12 digs, also adding three block assists.

Another bright spot for the Catamounts was the play of junior transfer, Krista Neumann. The Downers Grove, Ill., native recorded 13 kills with just two errors for a .379 attack percentage. Libero Kate Willard finished with 20 digs on the night.

Elon grabbed the early advantage, taking game one by a count of 30-21, out hitting the Catamounts .333-to-.053. As the two teams traded ends of the court, fortunes did not seem to swap as it was Western hitting over .300 in the second game while the Phoenix were saddled with nine attack errors. The Cats evened things up at one game apiece with the 30-22 tally.

After the break, WCU (5-16, 4-5 SoCon) appeared to be in control of game three before the Phoenix rose to the occasion, rallying from three-point, 9-6, deficit to score the next nine points in the match to take a 15-9 lead. Western managed to chip away at the lead, but never could manage it below a four-point cushion which Elon enjoyed the majority of the set. Facing game point, at 29-24, Western rattled off five-consecutive points behind the serve of Neumann to tie the game at 29 apiece. The seesaw battle continued past regulation, with the Catamounts squeezing out the win on back-to-back Talbot kills.

Coming off the emotional win in the third frame, offensive woes reemerged in game four as Western only managed nine kills while committing eight errors for a dismal, .032, attack percentage. Conversely, Elon killed 17 with just five errors (.308) to even the match and force the decisive game five.

In the rally fifth, the Catamounts fell behind 7-3 before mounting consecutive points pulled them within two, 7-5. Elon responded with a trifecta of its own to pull ahead by five, 10-5. Western would again close to within two on a Neumann kill, 11-9, but the Phoenix scored four of the final six points for the 15-11 game five and match win.

As a team, Western out blocked the Phoenix, 11-to-9, but Elon out hit the Catamounts overall, .262-to-.199.

Elon (5-14, 3-4 SoCon) was paced by sophomore Emily Lucci with a match-high 20 kills and 11 digs in the double-double effort. Senior Kate Hart dished out 65 assists and tallied 10 digs, while sophomore Brittany Westphal finished with 19 kills and 10 digs for another Phoenix double-double.

The Catamounts have a short turnaround, returning to action on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm in the Ramsey Center against the UNC Greensboro Spartans. Western has won 14-consecutive matches versus UNCG entering the Sunday afternoon matinee.