Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Catamounts of Western Carolina University volleyball team combined for a 12 total blocks Sunday afternoon while committing just seven attack errors in a 3-0 sweep of The Citadel. The Bulldogs struggled with WCU's defense as they committed 29 attack errors and hit .107 as a team.

Senior Addy George and freshman Kaycey Cermin each had six blocks in the match. George, who also led the Catamounts with nine kills, had one solo stop and five assist blocks. Cermin played just two of the three sets but still managed to put up one solo block and five block assists.

Freshman Jo-Leigh Vervelde finished second on the team in kills (8) and led the Catamounts in assists (15). Vervelde was extremely efficient in her attacks as she picked up her eight kills on just 15 attacks for a team-high .533 attack percentage. Senior Jordan Timmermann added to the offensive attack with seven kills on 24 swings and no errors good for a .292 attack percentage.

Junior setter Cristina Nazario finished with 14 assists, a team-high three service aces and four digs. Senior Caitlin Piechota finished second on the team in digs with 13 while also contributing four block assists. Joining her with four block assists was senior Brandi Anderson.

Junior libero Elyssa Mulheron led the squad with 15 digs.

The Catamounts are now 2-4 in conference play following today's victory. They also improved their overall record to 9-11. The Citadel fell to 6-15 overall and 0-6 in SoCon action.

The Catamounts jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the opening set before a timeout was called by The Citadel. Following the timeout, the Bulldogs used a 10-4 run to tie the set at 11. The set would remain close the rest of the way. With the score in favor of the Catamounts 21-20, WCU closed out the set with a 4-2 spurt that featured a kill by Vervelde, a kill from George and two Bulldog attack errors.

The second set opened up completely opposite of the first as the Bulldogs took a quick 5-1 lead. Midway through the stanza the Catamounts used a 6-1 lead to tie the set at 11. Both teams would exchange points for the next 14 serves but with the score knotted at 18 the Catamounts closed out the second with a 7-2 run. The jaunt featured a kill by George, a kill by Vervelde, a service ace from Nazario and four Bulldog attack errors.

The third and final set was all Catamounts as Piechota served the ball 12-straight times to close out the match. The set began just like the second with the Bulldogs jumping out to a 6-1 lead but the Catamounts would storm back and eventually take a 9-8 lead. Following a Vervelde kill that tied the set at 13, Piechota stepped back to serve and never relinquished the ball as the Catamounts scored 12-straight points to win the set and match, 25-13. The incredible run featured three blocks from the duo of Cermin and Anderson, a block by Cermin and Timmermann, kills from Timmermann, Cermin, Vervelde and Anderson, a solo block from Cermin, two Bulldog attack errors and one Bulldog ball-handling error.

The Bulldogs were led by Megan Sowell who had a match-high 14 kills.

The Catamounts will continue their four-match homestand this Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. as they host the Paladins of Furman University. Furman took down the Catamounts 3-1 in a highly competitive match in Greenville earlier this season. The Paladins currently sit atop the SoCon standings with a perfect 5-0 record.