Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina volleyball team fell 3-0 at home to the UNCG Spartans in its Southern Conference opener Friday night. The Spartans out-dug the Catamounts 66-50 while also having an outstanding offensive performance.

UNCG's Ashley Muench was nearly perfect offensively while picking up a team-high 13 kills. She had just one error on 17 attacks which equated to a .706 hitting percentage.

The Catamounts countered with senior Caitlin Piechota who continued to climb in the WCU record book with a match-high 16 kills, 10 digs and two blocks. She now has 1,022 career kills which moved her into 12th on the career kills list at WCU. She also increased her digs total to 1,098 good for sole possession of 12th on the career digs list.

The Catamount's record fell to 7-8, 0-1 SoCon while the Spartans improved their record to 8-5, 1-0 SoCon.

Seniors Addy George and Jordan Timmermann each added eight kills. Freshman Jo-Leigh Vervelde continued her strong play as both a setter and a hitter. She tallied her sixth double-double of the season and was just four kills away from a triple-double for the second-straight match. She had six kills, 19 assists, 11 digs and a service ace.

Junior setter Cristina Nazario had 19 assists and 10 digs to notch her fifth double-double of the season. Junior libero Elyssa Mulheron added 11 digs and a service ace.

All three sets were highly competitive with the Spartans coming out on top, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-22.

The Spartans took an early lead in the first set and led the entire period. The set nearly turned into a blowout but with the set on the line at 24-16 the Catamounts fought off four set points to eventually fall 25-20.

The second set was back-and-forth with nine tied scores and seven lead changes. WCU took the early 5-1 advantage but the Spartans battled back to tie the set at 12. The two teams traded points the rest of the way with neither team taking more than a two-point lead. With the score tied at 22 the Spartans rattled off a 3-0 run that included a kill from Jessica Brezwyn, an attack error by WCU and a block by Julia Westerbur and Kelsey Sidney.

The third set was an offensive showcase with both teams hitting over .400. The Spartans had 22 kills and two errors on 41 attacks (.488) while the Catamounts tallied 18 kills and one error on 42 attacks (.405). The Spartans used a 6-2 run midway through the period to take a four-point advantage. UNCG would hold onto that lead the rest of the way eventually winning 25-22.

UNCG was led by Muench who had 13 kills. Brezwyn added 11 kills and eight digs while Kelsey Sidney had 10 kills and eight digs.

The Catamounts return to action tomorrow night, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. as they travel to Furman for their second conference match of the season.