Oct. 22, 2010

Box Score |   

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Senior Paloma Alvarez and sophomore Amanda Chaparro paced the Catamounts in the team’s 3-1 loss to Georgia Southern on Friday night at the Ramsey Center, combining for 25 of the squads 40 kills.

“We started the match too passive for the level of Georgia Southern,” said Western Carolina head coach Manuel Concepcion. “We did come back later on, but it was too late.

“It was interesting to see that we are blocking and digging as many balls as our opponents but our conversion ratio is low,” said Concepcion. “We will swing at more shots on Sunday (against Davidson).”

WCU (6-18, 1-8 SoCon) fell in four sets by scores of 13-25, 15-25, 25-18, 25-20. Georgia Southern improved to 19-7 overall and 8-1 in Southern Conference action.

Freshman Morgan Cochran recorded a match-high 22 digs to guide the defensive effort while junior Carrie Minogue added five blocks (one solo, four block assists) in addition to five kills.

Junior Emliy Franklin had 22 assists in the loss and freshman Kelcie Randazzo added 13.

The Eagles opened the first set with an early 13-6 lead before WCU battled back to get within five (16-11) by using a 5-3 run capped by a Chaparro kill. Georgia Southern finished the set by going on a 9-2 run to win the opening stanza, 25-13.

Set two saw WCU take an early 6-5 advantage before the Eagles went on a 6-1 run to force a Catamount timeout and take a 12-6 lead. A 4-2 run by the Catamounts got the set within four (14-10), but that’s as close as WCU would get throughout the rest of the set. Both teams exchanged points until the score was 20-14 in favor of the Eagles. Georgia Southern finished the set on a 5-1 run to win, 25-15.

The Catamounts returned the favor to open set three, leading 12-6, before the Eagles got within four (14-10). Georgia Southern only got within two at the 17-15 mark, but WCU again took a six-point advantage (22-16) by going on a 5-1 run. The Catamounts took advantage of three Eagle miscues down the stretch to take set three, 25-18.

After Georgia Southern took a 13-8 lead midway through set four, WCU showed its resiliency by rattling off four consecutive points to get within one (13-12) and force an Eagle timeout. Georgia Southern responded by going on an 8-4 run to take a 21-16 lead. Both teams scored four points to close the set, but WCU couldn’t overcome the early deficit as they fell, 25-20.  

The double-double by Alvarez was the fifth of the season for the Arecibo, Puerto Rico, native and was her first since facing Elon on Oct. 3. The match was the third in a row for Brittany Lysik who had missed the previous 15 matches due to a lingering illness.

“I like the fact that we have the cushion that Brittany Lysik brings to the match,” said Concepcion. “Her stats don’t reflect the huge positive impact that she had throughout the match. She came into re-establish ball control and thanks to her, we were able to side out more effectively.

“This team has demonstrated that we can play head-to-head with the best teams in the conference,” said Concepcion. “We just need to find consistency earlier in the game.”

The Catamounts return to action on Sunday, Oc.t. 24 when they play host to Davidson in the team’s annual “Dig Pink” match. WCU has currently raised 69.5 percent of its goal of $1,000, with all the proceeds to be given to the SideOut Foundation and its efforts to support breast cancer research.

If patrons are interested in supporting the Catamounts’ effort, the online donation form can be accessed by clicking HERE. All fans in attendance for Sunday’s match against the Wildcats are encouraged to wear pink.