Box Score Sept. 19, 2014
Final Stats
Winston-Salem, N.C. -
For the third-straight match, the Western Carolina volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep of its opponent. The Catamounts opened up play at the Deacon Classic hosted by Wake Forest University with a match against former Southern Conference foe Elon University. WCU outlasted the Phoenix in the first set 26-24 before dominating the second set 25-13. The final set was a 25-21 come-from-behind victory for the Cats.
The last time the Catamounts swept three-straight matches was during the 2003 season. WCU improves its 2014 record to 6-5 while the Phoenix fell to 4-8.
Senior Caitlin Piechota and freshman Jo-Leigh Vervelde led the Catamounts with nine kills each. Piechota added 14 digs, three blocks and a service ace. Vervelde had 13 assists, five digs, three blocks and a service ace.
Senior's Addy George and Jordan Timmermann added seven kills each. George also had three blocks while Timmermann had 13 digs and a pair of blocks. Junior setter Cristina Nazario picked up a double-double with 21 assists and 12 digs while adding three service aces. Junior libero Elyssa Mulheron finished with 13 digs and a pair of service aces.
The Catamounts jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the first set but the Phoenix responded with a 10-1 run to take their first lead of the match. A few moments later trailing 20-16, the Catamounts stormed back with a 6-0 run on the serve of Mulheron that included one ace. The set continued its trend of runs as the Phoenix rebounded to take a 24-22 lead. With the set on the line the Catamounts once again responded with a 4-0 run to take the set 26-24. The set finished with a pair of blocks by Piechota and Katie O'Connor.
WCU opened the second set with a 9-1 run and never looked back as the Catamounts never trailed in the set and took a dominating 25-13 victory in the period.
The Phoenix took the early advantage in the third set as Elon got off to a 10-4 start. The Catamounts trailed almost the entire set but a late 10-3 gave WCU the 25-21 third set victory and 3-0 match win.
Elon was led by Kayla Agae who had 13 kills and 10 digs.
The Catamounts will return to action tomorrow with matches against host Wake Forest and Winthrop. Winthrop defeated Wake Forest 3-1 Friday evening.
