Sept. 16, 2006
Western Carolina vs. Valparaiso - Final Stats
Western Carolian vs. Kennesaw State - Final Stats
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina put the finishing touches on the Catamount Clash V tournament Saturday afternoon defeating the first-year Kennesaw State Owls, 3-1 (30-27, 30-24, 27-30, 30-19) in the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts dropped the first match of the day, 3-0, to Valparaiso while Kent State also defeated High Point in straight sets.
Kent State and Valparaiso each went unbeaten in three matches to share the Catamount Clash tournament title and each land two players on the all-tournament team. The honorary squad consisted of Ashley Feutz and Laura Jenzen from Kent State; Nicole Schulz and Jessie Fox from Valparaiso; Audie Gonzales from High Point; Jenny Black from Kennesaw State; and freshman Liz Rondone from Western.
The tournament honor is the second this season for Rondone, who established a school-record in digs with 41 on Friday afternoon against High Point. In the four matches over the two days, the Bloomington, Ill., native recorded 103 digs, averaging just under seven digs per game.
Western (4-12) was very balanced in its finale with one player reaching double figures and two just missing it with nine kills apiece. Senior Heather Koontz paced the Catamounts, which finished third overall in the tournament, with 10 kills with just one error for a match-high .474 attack percentage. Her classmate, Meredith Harmon, and Brittny Johnson each recorded nine kills in the win. Johnson, a freshman from Maple Hill, N.C., led the team with six total blocks, including two solo stops, with Koontz adding three.
Rondone again reached double-figures in digs finishing with a match-high 14, while senior Kate Willard just missed double digits with nine and freshman setter Katie Hennessey with seven. Hennessey dished out 32 assists in the win.
In the opening match on Saturday, Western was held to a .101 attack percentage in a three-game sweep by Valparaiso. Western's offense struggled to find its rhythm as no Catamount reached double figures. Harmon and Hennessey each recorded seven kills to pace the squad, with Johnson finishing with five.
Rondone recorded 23 kills in the loss with Hennessey finishing with nine to accompany 12 assists.
In the days only other match, Kent State (7-5) remained unbeaten in Cullowhee with a 3-0 win over High Point. The Golden Flashes put three in double figures, led by 16 kills from Ashley Feutz, 11 from Anne Zakelj, and by Sarah Wilber.
High Point (1-11) was paced by Jamie Kaufman with 14 kills, while Lauren Hatch had 17 digs and Audie Gonzalez recorded 14.
With the early-season tournaments complete, the Catamounts now turn their attention to conference play, which opens this Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 7:00 pm in the Ramsey Center. Western will entertain Chattanooga, who the Cats defeated in five games at home last season.
Final Catamount Clash Standings:
Kent State - (3-0)
Valparaiso - (3-0)
Western Carolina - (2-2)
Kennesaw State - (0-3)
High Point - (0-3)
Catamount Clash All-Tournament Team:
Ashley Feutz, Kent State
Laura Jensen, Kent State
Nicole Schulz, Valparaiso
Jessie Fox, Valparaiso
Audie Gonzalez, High Point
Jenny Black, Kennesaw State
Liz Rondone, Western Carolina
