Aug. 29, 2008

vs Stephen F. Austin Box Score

vs #13 Wisconsin Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Western Carolina volleyball (0-2) dropped a pair of matches to open the 2008 season Friday at Memorial Gym. The Catamounts fell 3-0 (15-25, 19-25, 18-25) to Stephen F. Austin and 3-0 (13-25, 9-25, 25-27) to No. 13 Wisconsin.

Freshman Brittany Lysik led the club with 11 kills in the match against Stephen F. Austin and Liz Rondone had 15 digs. Junior setter Katie Hennesseey had 14 assists. The match was unrelated to the Kentucky Classic.

The Catamounts opened the Kentucky Classic in a match-up with No. 13 Wisconsin. After falling behind, notching just 13 and nine points in games one and two, WCU took top-25 Wiconson to the brink in game three, scoring more points in game three then the previous two.

Western jumped out to a 12-8 lead early in what proved to be the final set. The Catamounts led the Badgers by three or four points most of the way including at 23-19. However, UW's Allison Wack posted a kill and a service ace to bring Wisconsin even at 23. Western served for set point at 25-24, but a Morgan Salow kill evened the score at 25. Consecutive kills by the Badgers surged Wisconsin ahead for the set, and match, victory.

WCU's improved play in the third set was a positive note for head coach Stephanie Dragan, whose team plays two matches on Saturday in tourney play.

Lysik and Rondone each paced the club in the loss to Wisconsin with nine kills and 16 digs respectively. Hennessey had 17 assists.

Western Carolina closes out the Kentucky Classic against host Kentucky and Pittsburgh on Saturday.