Final Stats

Johnson City, Tenn. - For the second time this season the Western Carolina volleyball team and East Tennessee State University needed five sets to decide a winner. Unlike the match held in Cullowhee earlier this year, the Bucs came out victorious. WCU won the second and third sets but ETSU was able to pull off the victory by winning the fourth set 26-24 and taking the fifth set 15-13. Three of the five sets were decided by just two points in a highly competitive affair.

WCU's senior class led the way for the Catamounts. Jordan Timmermann ended the match with 19 kills, 17 digs, two service aces and two blocks. Caitlin Piechota added 16 kills, 23 digs and a block. Senior Addy George finished third on the team with eight kills while leading the Catamounts with six blocks. Rounding out the senior leaders was Brandi Anderson who collected six kills.

Freshman Jo-Leigh Vervelde continued to put up strong numbers with 30 assists, 21 digs, four kills, a block and a service ace. Fellow setter Cristina Nazario added 19 assists and nine digs while junior libero Elyssa Mulheron chipped in 20 digs.

ETSU took the opening set 25-17 before WCU won the next two periods, 26-24 and 25-15. ETSU closed out the match by taking the fourth set, 26-24, and the fifth set, 15-13.

The Bucs improve to 13-15 overall and 7-5 in SoCon play while the Catamounts fall to 14-13 and 7-6 in conference action.

The final numbers were nearly identical for both teams but the Bucs picked up 10 more kills than the Catamounts (67-57) and they also edged the Cats in digs (102-96).

The Bucs were led by Meredith Hardy's 21 kills and three blocks while Briana Allmon added 13 kills on 28 attacks.

WCU will return to the Ramsey Center this Friday and Saturday as the Catamounts close out the home portion of their schedule. Samford will visit Cullowhee on Friday at 6 p.m. and Wofford comes calling on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Catamounts will honor their four seniors prior to the match against Wofford.