Nov. 19, 2005

Final Stats

Statesboro, Ga. - Seventh-seeded Western Carolina opened a two-game lead over Appalachian State Friday evening in its quarterfinal match with the second-seeded Mountaineers, but ASU rallied to win three-straight to eliminate the upset-minded Catamounts, 3-2 (24-30, 27-30, 30-16, 30-24, 15-13).

The two game victories for Western over its arch-rival marked its first set wins over the Apps this season, falling in three in both regular season meetings. The erasure of the two games marked the first time that Appalachian had emerged victorious in 2005 after losing the first two games of a contest.

Junior Heather Koontz led three Catamounts with double-doubles, tallying a team-high 14 kills and 20 digs. She also added three total blocks on the night. Senior Ellie Talbot finished with 10 kills and 19 digs, while junior setter Meghan Boyle dished out 42 assists and dug 16 for the third WCU double-double, adding eight kills. Junior Krista Neumann equaled Boyle's output with eight kills, adding 11 digs.

Sophomore Meredith Harmon was a third Catamount to record double-figures offensively with 13 kills while adding six digs and three total blocks, including a pair of solo stops. Her classmate, Danielle Spitzer, was a force at the net for WCU, finishing with 10 total blocks, while junior libero Kate Willard just missed the 30-dig club for the second-time this season, tallying 29 digs in the loss.

Western (9-25), fresh off its 3-0 shutout victory over the UNC Greensboro on Thursday, looked like the team with something to prove from the outset. The Catamounts capitalized on every opportunity allotted their way in the first game of the match, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead. Tied at 10-all, Western put together a 10-2 run to take a commanding 20-12 lead en route to winning 30-24 to take an early advantage over their rival.

The Cats kept rolling along after the commencement of the second game, acquiring the first eight points in game two before allowing the Mountaineers to etch their name on the scoreboard. Western owned a plethora of sizable leads in the second game, leading by as many as 11 at one juncture in the contest before the Apps made a surge. ASU managed to pull to within two at 28-26 before the Cats were able to muster the final two points needed and went into the 10-minute intermission with a 2-0 advantage over their rivals in the quarterfinal match.

Trying to stave off elimination, Appalachian placed themselves back into the match in game three, putting together some sound runs in the process and taking a 30-16 win.

The Mountaineers continued to ride the momentum swing into the fourth game, placating once again the Cats ideas of ending Appalachian's chances at the 2005 SoCon crown and downing the Catamounts 30-24 in game four to force a decisive game five. Appalachian State and Western were locked for most of the fifth game, but the Mountaineers began to break away towards the end, moving on in the tourney with a game five 15-13 victory.

Appalachian moves on to the semifinal round of the 2005 SoCon Volleyball Championship where they will square off against sixth-seeded Furman at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hanner Fieldhouse.

Western Carolina concludes head coach Stephanie Dragan's first season at the helm with a 9-25 overall record, 7-11 in the Southern Conference. The 2005 Catamounts managed to end a four-year drought in the SoCon Championship, winning its first-round game on Thursday over UNC Greensboro.

The loss also ends the collegiate career of Western senior, Ellie Talbot. The Evanston, Ill., native concludes her four years in Cullowhee ranked fourth on the Catamount's all-time digs list.