Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - For the second time this season a Western Carolina volleyball senior has surpassed the 1,000 kills milestone. Senior Caitlin Piechota became the 13th student-athlete in WCU volleyball history to reach the 1,000 kills mark. She also became the ninth Catamount to have 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs. WCU defeated Gardner-Webb in a 3-0 sweep Wednesday night inside the Ramsey Center.

The last Catamount to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs was Sara Komosinski (2000-03) who finished her career with 1,470 kills and 1,192 digs. Piechota now has 1,006 kills and 1,088 digs.

Western Carolina dominated the opening set against the Runnin' Bulldogs 25-14. The second set was a tough battle for both teams with the Catamounts coming from behind to steal a 26-24 victory. The final set saw the Cats jump out to an early lead and hang on for a 25-20 win.

The victory moves WCU's record to 7-7 while the Runnin' Bulldogs fall to 7-11.

Piechota led the Catamounts in kills with 15 and tied for the lead in digs with 12. Senior Jordan Timmermann, who is just 79 digs away from joining Piechota in the 1,000 kills/1,000 digs club, had eight kills and 12 digs.

Junior Cristina Nazario and freshman Jo-Leigh Vervelde once again split the setting duties and they both ended the match with 18 assists. Vervelde ended the match with seven kills and 10 digs coming up just three kills short of a triple-double. Nazario added six digs and a team-high two service aces.

Freshman Katie O'Connor and senior Addy George helped control the net with three and four blocks, respectively. O'Connor chipped in six kills while George had five. Junior libero Elyssa Mulheron finished the match with 10 digs and a pair of assists.

The opening set was all Catamounts as WCU stormed out to a 19-10 lead and never looked back. A kill by Timmermann ended the set 25-14.

The Runnin' Bulldogs took the early lead in the second set and hung on to a narrow advantage most of the period. Down 18-15, the Catamounts used a 6-1 run to take a 21-19 lead. GWU came back with a 5-2 answer to force the first set point of the period. With the set on the line, Piechota used a hard attack off the GWU block to tie the set at 24 and give herself 1,000 career digs. Following Piechota's lead, senior Brandi Anderson and Timmermann closed out the Runnin' Bulldogs with back-to-back kills.

The third set was much like the first with the Catamounts jumping out to an early lead and hanging on for the victory. WCU took a 10-4 advantage early in the period but the Runnin' Bulldogs would cut the lead to just three late in the set. With the score at 23-20 a Runnin' Bulldogs attack error gave WCU match point. George and Vervelde closed out the match with a block giving WCU its fifth 3-0 victory of the season.

The Runnin' Bulldogs were led by Brianna Starr who finished the match with 12 kills and nine digs.

WCU will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. as the Catamounts open up Southern Conference play at home against UNCG.