Nov. 12, 2010

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Senior Paloma Alvarez posted a match-high 11 kills as the Western Carolina volleyball team fell to UNC Greensboro on Friday night in three sets (17-25, 25-27, 15-25).

In addition to Alvarez, junior Carrie Minogue chipped in five kills and junior Rebecca Stoltz contributed four. Freshman Kelcie Randazzo added a team-high 18 assists in the loss.

Defensively, Alvarez paced the Catamounts with 11 digs while freshman Morgan Cochran added 10. WCU was out blocked by 10 as UNCG recorded 13 team blocks to the Catamounts’ three.

However, WCU was able to pick up three more service aces (6-3) than the Spartans. Junior Brittany Lysik paced the Catamounts with three service aces. She also added seven digs in the match.

“We came into the game serving more aggressive than usual and that made UNC Greensboro’s offense unstable,” said Western Carolina head coach Manuel Concepcion. “That created second opportunities, but they were able to slow down our outside hitting attempts, a fact that made our offense predictable.

“Brittany Lysik’s role became an influential aspect once again for us to be able to play the opponent close,” said Concepcion. “We hope to carry our aggressive serves towards tomorrow’s match and this time take advantage of the chances created by our defense.”

UNCG opened up a 12-5 lead to open the set and ran out to an eight-point advantage (20-12). The Catamounts responded by going on a 5-2 run to get the match within five, but two Spartan kills and a WCU attacking error gave the Spartans the first set, 25-17.

The Spartans took a six-point lead (12-6) to start the second set before the Catamounts stormed back by scoring six consecutive points to the match at 12 all. The two squads battled back and forth with UNCG never leading by more than four until WCU took their first lead of the match since scoring the first two points of the set at 23-22. The Catamounts scored two of the next three points to make it set point (25-24), but the Spartans went on to win the set, 27-25, by scoring the final three points of the set on a Kayren Finney kill and two WCU miscues.

UNCG raced out to a 23-8 lead to open the third set until the Catamounts scored four consecutive points to make the score 23-12 and force a Spartan timeout. All told, WCU scored seven of the final nine points, but couldn’t overcome the early deficit as the fell, 25-15.

WCU returns to action in its season finale tomorrow afternoon against Elon at 5:30 p.m. The Catamounts dropped the first meeting this season in Cullowhee, 3-1, on Oct. 3.