Oct. 16, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Behind the double-figure kill games by sophomore Meredith Harmon and senior Ellie Talbot, the Western Carolina Catamount volleyball team earned its first three-game sweep of the season, defeating UNC Greensboro in straight sets, 3-0 (30-26, 30-21, 30-22) Sunday afternoon in the Ramsey Center.

The win evens Western's record in the SoCon at 5-5, 6-16 overall, while UNCG dropped to 2-18 overall, 1-9 in league play.

"It was great to be able to finish a match off after taking an early 2-0 lead," said first-year head coach, Stephanie Dragan. "We have had the opportunity to do so in previous matches, but could not dig deep to win in three. We tried a few different things today - some worked and some did not - but the key is that we earned the win and will look to carry that momentum on the road to Chattanooga."

Harmon led the Catamount offense, finishing with a team-high 16 kills - six alone in the decisive game three - on 20 total attacks, while committing a single error for the .750 attack percentage. Harmon added a solo block and two assists in the win. Talbot recorded the lone double-double for Western, killing 13 and finishing with 10 digs and two block assists.

The Cats used two setters during the match, with classmates Meghan Boyle and Kate Willard splitting time dishing out assists. Boyle finished with 24 assists, adding eight digs, while Willard, who started the match as the libero, handed out 10 assists with nine digs.

Western started the day well, racing to a 7-0 advantage forcing the Spartans to take an early timeout. The pep talk worked as UNCG rallied to tie the match at nine, then take a 10-9 advantage. The two battled back-and-forth until the Catamounts broke a 26-all tie by scoring four consecutive points, two off Harmon kills, to take the 1-0 match lead.

Capitalizing on UNCG errors, WCU again went ahead early in the second game, taking a 7-1 lead. The Catamounts were able to stretch the advantage to 17-7, scoring four consecutive points off the serve of sophomore Danielle Spitzer. Western was able to finish off the game, 30-21.

Western seized control of the see-saw game three, tallying four-straight points to turn an 18-16 lead to a 23-16 advantage. The Catamounts were able to close out the match with a 30-22 win, finishing it off with Neumann service ace.

UNC Greensboro was led by sophomore Lauren Keiser with 18 kills on a .395 attack percentage while senior Lauren Richards finished with eight. Senior Adrian Hicks dished out 33 assists, while junior Christin Heverly recorded 12 digs.

Western Carolina returns to action on Tuesday evening, traveling to Chattanooga to battle the Lady Mocs at 7:00 pm. The Catamounts defeated Chattanooga in five games back on September 27 in Cullowhee. UNC Greensboro is idle next week, taking the floor next Saturday, Oct. 22 as the Spartans visit Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga., for a 7:00 pm match.