Box Score Nov. 7, 2014

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina volleyball's four seniors opened senior weekend with a bang as they took down Southern Conference leader Samford University Friday night inside the Ramsey Center. The win marked the first victory over the Bulldogs in Cullowhee in program history. The Catamounts gave Samford all they could handle over the opening two sets but WCU still found itself down 2-0 after losing set one 27-25 and dropping the second set 29-27. The final three sets would be another story as the Catamounts never gave up and took the match 3-2.

WCU's four seniors led the way in the match. Caitlin Piechota had one of the best performances of her career as she tied a career-high with 20 kills without committing an attack error on 50 swings. She also added 18 digs to achieve her 51st career double-double. Addy George unleashed a career-high 18 kills while swinging with a .519 attack percentage. She added a team-high eight blocks including three solo stops. It was the 46th time in her career that she had achieved four or more blocks in a match. Jordan Timmermann had 16 kills and 12 digs for her 30th career double-double. Brandi Anderson came up just one block short of tying a career-high as she stopped five Bulldog attacks. She also had three kills on the day.

A pair of freshmen also had a big match as Katie O'Connor registered a career-high eight kills on 11 swings without an error for a team-best .727 hitting percentage. She also had three block assists in the match. Jo-Leigh Vervelde had seven kills, 36 assists, 16 digs and two blocks while hitting .429.

Junior libero Elyssa Mulheron led the team with 20 digs while junior setter Cristina Nazario added 27 assists and four digs.

The win moved WCU's record to 15-13 overall and 8-6 in SoCon action. The Bulldogs fell to 16-10 and 10-3 in SoCon matches.

The first set featured 13 tie scores and four lead changes as both teams battled for the early advantage. The Bulldogs had a pair of set points but WCU would not relinquish the set. With the score tied at 25, the Bulldogs picked up back-to-back kills to take the opening period, 27-25.

The Bulldogs led most of the second set but a late 7-1 run gave WCU set point at 24-22. Back-to-back kills by the Bulldogs ended WCU's threat and tied the set at 24. George gave WCU another set point at 25-24 but once again the Bulldogs answered with a kill. Piechota then stepped up a picked up a kill to give WCU a 26-25 advantage but once again it would not last as back-to-back kills by the Bulldogs swung the momentum in Samford's favor. Piechota once again stepped up and put a ball down to tie the set at 27. After a Bulldog kill, Samford's top server, Chelsi Carter, put down an ace to end the set, 29-27.

The third set was all Catamounts as they held the lead almost the entire period. Piechota had six kills in the period while George added three kills and four blocks. Piechota and George combined for WCU's final five points of the set as they took the period, 25-17.

The fourth set was much like the third but the Bulldogs kept the score a little closer. WCU trailed just once in the period and that was at 1-0. The four seniors combined for 14 of WCU's 17 kills in the set with Piechota leading the way with five.

The Catamounts jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth set before Samford called a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Bulldogs went on a 6-2 run to tie the period at nine. A kill by Piechota and a block from Anderson and O'Connor forced Samford to use its final timeout at 11-9. Timmermann came out of the break with back-to-back kills to push WCU's lead to 13-9. After a WCU error and Samford kill, Timmermann put down another ball to give WCU match point at 14-11. Samford's final attack went long giving WCU its first win over Samford in Cullowhee in seven tries.

Samford was led by Erin Bognar who had 23 kills, 16 digs and two blocks. Michaela Reesor added 17 kills and 13 digs while Emily Meitz had 14 kills.

WCU now has wins over every member of the Southern Conference this season except Wofford. The Catamounts will get their chance to change that tomorrow afternoon inside the Ramsey Center at 3 p.m. WCU will honor its four seniors prior to the match.