Nov. 8, 2005

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Behind a decisive blocking advantage, 13-to-5, the Western Carolina Catamount volleyball team could never get on track offensively, falling in straight sets to East Tennessee State, 3-0 (30-19, 30-25, 30-20), in non-conference action in the Ramsey Center.

Western (7-22) failed to put a player in double-digits in kills, with two Catamounts finishing with nine. Junior Heather Koontz and sophomore Meredith Harmon each killed nine in the loss. Koontz added nine digs, while Harmon led WCU with three total blocks. Junior Krista Neumann was one kill behind her two teammates with eight on the night.

Defensively, senior Ellie Talbot and junior libero, Kate Willard, each recorded 14 digs, while junior setter Meghan Boyle was the lone Catamount with a double-double, dishing out 31 assists to accompany 11 digs.

Leading 17-12 in game one after four points from their block, East Tennessee State used a 7-2 run to break things open, grabbing a 10-point, 19-9 advantage. Western chipped away at the Bucs lead, but the mid-match run proved too much in the end, falling 30-19.

The second set was a nip-and-tuck affair into double-digit points. Tied at 22, ETSU managed eight of the final 11 points scored to take the 2-0 lead in the match with the 30-25 triumph.

In game three, the Cats early 1-0 advantage was quickly erased by the Buccaneers on a 5-0 run for a 5-to-1 lead. Western would rally to pull back to within one at 6-5, but East Tennessee State scored 10 of the next 15 to pull ahead, 16-10 and never really looked back as the Catamounts could never mount much of an offensive charge, falling 30-20 in the three-game sweep.

The Buccaneers (18-13) were led by junior Jennifer Sartor with a match-high 15 kills on a .467 attack percentage, only committing one error on 30 total attacks. Junior Crystal Palmer killed 10 in the win, with her classmate Sarah Buhr, leading the team with 14 digs.

Western Carolina returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 10 to host UNC Asheville in the final home match of the 2005 season. The Catamounts will honor their lone senior, Ellie Talbot, during pre-game festivities in the Ramsey Center.