Sept. 19, 2010

Box Score

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Senior Paloma Alvarez posted a career-high 19 kills, but it wasn't enough to defeat UNC Asheville as WCU fell in four sets on Saturday night at the Ramsey Center.

"Our attitude and effort were much higher than normal this weekend," said Western Carolina head coach Manuel Concepcion. "We are playing with more confidence even when we might be down and that's what we need to see."

The Catamounts (4-9) dropped the first set, 25-17, before battling back to win set two by a score of 25-22. UNCA won set three, 25-17, and set four, 25-19. Set one saw the Catamounts and Bulldogs tied at 10 before UNCA used a 10-3 run to take a 20-13 advantage. Back-to-back kills by Paloma Alvarez and Carrie Minogue got the Catamounts back within five (20-15), but the Bulldogs went on a 5-2 run capped by a Cindi Miller kill to take the set, 25-17.

WCU jumped out to a 12-8 lead in set two before UNCA bounced back and tied the set at 15. The Catamounts went on a 6-2 run to take a 21-17 advantage. The Bulldogs gave the Catamounts a scare as they brought the match within two (24-22), but UNCA's Rachel Guinane committed a service error to give the Catamounts the set.

The Catamounts trailed by as much as 11 (18-7) in the third set before WCU capitalized on three consecutive UNCA errors to make the set (18-10). WCU got the match within seven (23-16), but the Bulldogs took the final two points of the set on a WCU attacking error and a Cindi Miller kill.

WCU again trailed by as much as eight (18-10) in set four, but the Catamounts fought back by going on a 5-1 run to get within four (19-15). After a Jenna Dover kill made the score 21-16 in favor of the Bulldogs, WCU used two kills by Kelcie Randazzo and a kill by Abbey Scroggins to get within three (22-19). UNCA scored the final three points of the set on two Miller kills and a WCU attacking error to win the match.

Alvarez paced the Catamounts with 19 kills while Minogue and Randazzo contributed 13 kills each. Amanda Chaparro added nine kills on the night.

"We looked better offensively because we were doing our service receive better," said Concepcion. "The more we improve in our serve receive the more we are going to improve on offense."

For the second time in as many matches, setter Emily Franklin recorded a career-high performance. The Lexington, Ky., native posted a match-high 46 assists, eclipsing her previous career mark of 33 assists set in the team's last match against Presbyterian last Wednesday (Sept. 15).

"She is a very smart player," said Concepcion. "When she gets to the ball her decision making is outstanding. She has a great view of the floor and has control of the offense because the players trust her. Having Emily playing as well as she has been lately also allows Kelcie Randazzo to become one of our main passers."

Defensively, freshman Morgan Cochran led a group of three Catamounts who recorded 10 or more digs with a match-high 29 digs. Chaparro chipped in 22 digs and Randazzo added 15.

"Morgan Cochran brought a different perspective of the game today that we haven't seen from her so far this season," said Concepcion. "She was confident and allowed other players to free up so she could become more of an offense threat."

The Catamounts will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 22 against USC Upstate at 7 p.m. in Cullowhee.

All-Tournament Team

Cindi Miller, OH, UNC Asheville
Rachel Guinane, S, UNC Asheville
Kelsey Benorden, OH, UNC Asheville
Morgan Cochran, Libero, Western Carolina
Paloma Alvarez, OH, Western Carolina
Andrea Evans, OH, North Carolina A&T