Sept. 3, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. -
Western Carolina (2-5) fell twice Saturday in the Courtyard Midtown Classic to the Wisconsin Badgers (3-3) and the host N.C. State Wolfpack (5-1) by scores of 3-0 (25-12, 25-18, 25-14 against Wisconsin and 25-16, 25-19, 25-18 against N.C. State).
In the first match against Wisconsin, the Catamounts fell due to a balanced Badger offensive attack with four different players earning more than five kills and a 17-5 advantage in total blocks.
The Catamounts could not gain a lead in the match until leading briefly 3-2 in the third set. The Badgers were led by Courtney Thomas, who played a complete game adding five kills, 12 assists, five digs and four blocks in the winning effort. Elle Ohlander also contributed with seven kills, five blocks and a dig.
The Catamounts offensive effort was led by freshman Caitlin Piechota, who for the third straight match had at least 10 kills. Setter Brittany Lysik posted a double-double, adding 11 digs and 19 assists.
Wisconsin claimed the first set, 25-12, getting on the board first following two Catamount attack errors. An early run behind Chapman's serve put the Badgers up 7-1. A Carrie Minogue kill and a few errors by the Badgers brought the Catamounts within six, being down 17-11, but WCU wouldn't get any closer to the Wisconsin lead.
The Catamounts were behind 3-2 in the second set after two straight kills by Caitlin Piechota before Wisconsin went on a 9-3 run. WCU didn't get any closer than within six points of the Badgers' lead, with Wisconsin winning the second set 25-18.
WCU saw its only lead of the match early in the third set with a kill be senior Rebecca Stoltz and an ace by Brittany Lysik putting the Catamounts up 2-1. Following a kill by Wisconsin's Deme Morales, the Badgers would tally six points behind the serve of Annemarie Hickey, taking an 8-3 lead. The Catamounts got back within three of Wisconsin behind kills from freshman Lauren Johnston and Abbey Scroggins, but eventually fell 25-14.
Libero Morgan Cochran added two assists and 13 digs while senior Carrie Minogue added four kills.
In the second match against N.C. State, the Wolfpack jumped out of the gates quickly in the first set, taking an 11-3 lead with two streaks behind serves from Margaret Salata and Alexa Micek. The Wolfpack won the set 25-16.
Two kills early in the second set put the Catamounts above N.C. State 2-1. After falling behind as the set went on, the Catamounts clawed back to within three with the score being 9-12 in favor of the Wolfpack. It would be as close as the Purple and Gold would get in the second set with N.C. State taking the set 25-19.
The third set was a very closely played set with the two teams exchanging leads four times before the Wolfpack pulled ahead behind the serve of Kelly Wood after the Catamount got within one of a 18-17 Wolfpack lead. After a couple of Wolfpack kills, N.C. State went on a 4-0 run to finish the set at 25-18.
Senior Rebecca Stoltz hit .500 from the outside to lead the Catamounts in the kill category with nine while also adding three block assists. Carrie Minogue and Caitlin Piechota both added seven apiece. Brittany Lysik added 11 digs with libero Morgan Cochran logging nine.
Western Carolina will be back on the road this week to participate in the Active Ankle Challenge on the campus of Purdue University next weekend taking on the Cardinals of Ball State Friday afternoon. Coverage for that match and for the rest of the weekend can be found via Gametracker at CatamountSports.com.
