Oct. 18, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Catamount volleyball team fell in straight sets to the Chattanooga Lady Mocs Tuesday night, 3-0 (30-28, 30-26, 30-24) in Southern Conference action from Maclellan Gymnasium in Chattanooga, Tenn.

"The score and final game count does not represent the way we played tonight," said first-year head coach Stephanie Dragan. "It is too bad that there is not a statistical category for effort and heart. If there were, we would have been off the charts tonight. This is the hardest I have seen this team play all year and I am so proud of them and their effort tonight, it was very encouraging."

The Catamounts (6-17, 5-6 SoCon) were led by sophomore Meredith Harmon, who finished with 15 kills on a .379 attack percentage. The Villa Hills, Ky., native added four block assists as Western out blocked the Mocs, 9-to-3 on the night. Junior setters Meghan Boyle and Kate Willard each recorded double-doubles for the Cats. Boyle dished out a match-high 26 assists with 11 digs while Willard passed out 11 assists recording 19 digs, one shy of the team-high 20 recorded by freshman Tracey Justus.

Senior Ellie Talbot and juniors Heather Koontz and Krista Neumann each recorded eight kills apiece in the loss, combining for one solo block and six block assists.

Western fell behind quickly in game one, 6-0, before regaining is composure and mounting a charge of its own. The Catamounts came roaring back and actually led the game 28-27, before UTC managed the last three points of the game to win, 30-28, and go ahead by one.

The Catamounts got out to an early lead in the second game and appeared to have things in hand after appearing to take a 20-14 lead after a Chattanooga hitting error. However, on that play, Western was called for net interference turning the 20-14 lead instead to 19-15 with the Lady Mocs serving. That point started an 8-0 run for Chattanooga that ended with a 22-19 advantage. UTC would never look back, pulling out the 30-26 win and the 2-0 match lead.

Like in the opening game, the third frame started with an early Chattanooga advantage as the Mocs raced to a 6-1 lead. The Catamounts would again rally, tying the game at eight, before back-to-back service aces gave Chattanooga a 10-8 lead, which it would never relinquish.

Chattanooga (12-9, 7-2 SoCon) was led by senior Lindsay Galloway, who garnered her 10th double-double of the season. She tied a season-high with 20 kills and also had 14 digs while hitting a team high .375 for the match.

The Catamounts hit the road for a pair of matches in conference action this weekend. Western will visit arch-rival Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:00 pm, and Davidson the following day (Oct. 22) for an afternoon tilt with the Wildcats.