Final Stats

GREENSBORO, N.C. - For the first time since 2005 the Western Carolina University volleyball team swept an opponent at the Southern Conference Tournament. WCU, the No. 5 seed, downed the No. 4 seed ETSU 3-0 Saturday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C., to advance to the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals. The Catamounts will face either No. 1 seed Furman or No. 8 seed Wofford tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m.

Seniors Caitlin Piechota and Jordan Timmermann led the way for the Catamounts as they each picked up 11 kills in the victory. Senior Addy George controlled the net with a team-high four blocks including two solo stops. Piechota turned in a double-double with 14 digs while George added six kills to her four blocks.

Freshman Jo-Leigh Vervelde dished out a team-high 20 assists while also digging up 12 balls. She added five kills and two blocks for an all-around performance. Junior libero Elyssa Mulheron led the team with 18 digs while junior setter Cristina Nazario added 12 assists.

The Catamounts held the Buccaneers to a team hitting percentage of .093 while WCU hit at a .188 clip.

The loss ends the Bucs season with a 17-16 record while the Catamounts move on with a 17-14 record.

WCU won in straight sets 25-17, 25-23 and 25-23.

The Catamounts never trailed in the opening period as they used a balanced attack that saw six Cats register at least one kill. Piechota led the way with five kills while George and Timmerman each had three. Up 9-7 midway through the set, the Catamounts used a 9-4 run to open up a seven point lead. WCU would cruise from there with senior Brandi Anderson closing out the set with a kill from a Mulheron assist.

The second set was once again a balanced attack with Vervelde leading the team with four kills and Timmermann and freshman Katie O'Connor adding three kills apiece. WCU jumped out to a 9-4 lead but the Bucs eventually fought their way back into the match and took a 19-16 lead late. The Catamounts answered with an 8-2 run to force set point at 24-21. The Bucs fought off two set points before a Vervelde kill ended the period, 25-23.

The third set was led by the senior trio of George, Timmermann and Piechota. Timmermann led with five kills, Piechota had four and George added three. The Bucs were the early frontrunners as they took an early 5-1 lead. The Catamounts answered with a 18-7 run to take a 19-12 lead. The Bucs eventually cut the lead to just one at 22-21 but WCU forced their first match point after a ETSU service error and a kill by Piechota. The Bucs once again fought off the match points just like set two but with the score set at 24-23, Piechota gave WCU its first conference tournament win since 2005 with a kill.

ETSU was led by Rylee Milhorn who had 11 kills. Meredith Hardy and Ivey Rice added eight kills each.

The Catamounts will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m . as they face the Furman/Wofford winner.