Sept. 16, 2010

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Western Carolina volleyball team lost a close, four-set match to Presbyterian on Wednesday night at the Ramsey Center.

"We need to become a better team with a better defensive mentality," said Western Carolina head coach Manuel Concepcion.

The Catamounts (3-8) lost the first set 25-19 before taking set two into extra points, 30-28. The Blue Hose (5-4) held on for a close 25-23 victory in set three before winning the final set, 26-24.

The first set saw WCU trailing early (15-7) before going on a 5-2 run to get the match within five (17-12). Senior Paloma Alvarez brought the Catamounts within three points (21-18) on a kill before the Blue Hose took advantage of three WCU attacking errors to win the set.

WCU jumped out to an early 11-4 lead in set two on nine Presbyterian errors paired with a Sara Gantt service ace and a kill by Alvarez. The Blue Hose returned the favor by going an 11-4 run of their own to tie the match at 15. The match was tied five more times throughout the set with the final tie at 28. An attacking error by Presbyterian's Amanda Kettles and a service ace by WCU's Carrie Minogue sealed the 30-28 set-two victory for the Catamounts.

WCU and Presbyterian exchanged leads much of the third set with neither team leading by more than two points the entire match. The match saw the two teams tied at 22 before an attacking error by Kelcie Randazzo gave the Blue Hose a one-point advantage (23-22). Minogue tied the match at 23 on a kill before Presbyterian scored the final two points to win the set.

Set four saw WCU lead late in the match, 22-20, before the Blue Hose battled back to tie the match at 23. A Minogue kills gave WCU set point (24-23), but Presbyterian scored the final three points of the match on kills by Presley Mabrey and Lisa Shelley and a WCU attacking error.

Alvarez led the Catamount offense with a team-high 15 kills. The Arecibo, Puerto Rico, native added nine digs and two blocks on the night.

"Paloma played one of her best games of the year both at the net blocking and during her attacking game," said Concepcion.

Junior Emily Franklin recorded a career-best 33 assists on the night. The Lexington, Ky., native ranks second in the team with a total of 88 assists on the year.

"She is doing a good job for us and made good decisions at important moments tonight," said Concepcion.

Minogue and Randazzo both contributed 10 kills on the night. Minogue posted a .389 attacking percentage while chipping in three blocks.

In other defensive statistics, freshman Leah Best recorded four blocks and Amanda Chaparro added nine digs.

Both Presbyterian and WCU struggled in the attacking game as the Blue Hose recorded 35 miscues to the Catamounts' 32. However, WCU committed four fewer service errors (12-8) and four less receiving errors (8-4).

"To have 20 errors from our outside hitters is too many and it is not going to help win games," said Concepcion. "We can compete with at least 80 percent of the teams in our conference and we have shown that in the teams we have faced so far this season, but we have to commit fewer errors and get better mentally on defense."

WCU will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 18 as they play host to the Western Carolina Invitational. The Catamounts face North Carolina A&T at 1 p.m. before playing UNC Asheville at 7 p.m. North Carolina A&T and UNC Asheville square off at 4 p.m. in the tournament's second match.