Oct. 15, 2010

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Sophomore Amanda Chaparro posted her eighth double-double of the season, recording a match-high 15 kills and 11 digs in the Catamounts’ four-set (18-25, 9-25, 25-22, 18-25) loss to Furman on Friday evening in Greenville, S.C.

“Amanda Chaparro had a great match and was by far the most consistent player for us tonight,” said Western Carolina head coach Manuel Concepcion.

“We started a little low, played well later on, but Furman’s setting distribution was outstanding and created trouble in our defensive reading.”

The Catamounts (6-16, 1-6 SoCon) and Paladins (11-8, 5-2 SoCon) were tied four times early in set one before Furman pulled ahead by five (12-7) to force a WCU timeout. The Catamounts got within two (13-11) on a Furman service error before the Paladins used a 4-1 run to regain their five-point (17-12) advantage. WCU countered with a 5-1 run to get within one (18-17), but Furman used a 7-1 run to win set one, 25-18.

After trailing by five (8-3) to open the second set, back-to-back kills by Chaparro and Rebecca Stoltz got the Catamounts within three (8-5). Furman retaliated by going on an 8-2 run to take a 14-7 lead. WCU only scored two more points in the set as the Paladins used an 11-2 run to close out the second set, 25-9.

The Catamounts jumped out to an early 9-5 lead in the third set capped by a Leah Best block. WCU had its largest lead at 18-11 and led by six late in the set (21-15). Furman rallied back to get within two (23-21), but kills by Carrie Minogue and Kelcie Randazzo won the set for the Catamounts.

Set four saw WCU trail by as much as six (9-3) before the Catamounts rallied back to get within two (13-11) and force a Furman timeout. The Paladins regrouped and went on a 9-2 run to take a 22-14 lead late in set. WCU outscored Furman 4-3 in the final points of the set, but it wasn’t enough to overcome their early deficit as they fell, 25-18.

Senior Paloma Alvarez added 12 kills and three blocks in the loss while Randazzo chipped in seven kills to go along with a team-high 14 digs. Freshman Morgan Cochran had 12 digs and junior Emily Franklin posted 34 assists.

“We need to come tomorrow and present a bigger threat to their (Wofford) serve receive than we did tonight,” said Concepcion.

The Catamounts return to action at Wofford on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.