WCU vs. Idaho Final Stats

WCU at Tennessee Tech Final Stats

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Western Carolina volleyball team won its opening match of the 2015 Golden Eagle Invitational against Idaho 3-1 before falling to the host, Tennessee Tech, 3-1 in the night cap. Sophomore Jo-Leigh Vervelde, who came into the week leading the NCAA in triple-doubles, completed her fifth triple-double of the season in the win over Idaho and came up just one kill shy of her sixth against Tennessee Tech.

With the split the Catamounts record moved to 6-8 overall. Idaho fell to 2-8 after the loss to WCU while Tennessee Tech improved to 2-10 with the victory.

Over the two matches freshman Savannah Kohlhagen led the Catamounts with 21 total kills while Vervelde came in a close second with 20 kills.

In the opening match against Idaho, Vervelde finished with 11 kills, 19 assists and 21 digs. She also had a pair of blocks and a service ace. Sophomore Kaycey Cermin and freshman Alyssa Zupan each had 10 kills in the victory. Cermin added a team-high four blocks including three solo stops. Zupan finished with a double-double with 11 digs. Kohlhagen contributed nine kills and 12 digs in the victory.

Senior setter Cristina Nazario led the team with 20 assists and 14 digs while senior libero Elyssa Mulheron added a team-high 25 digs while also being credited with seven assists.

The Catamounts jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead which led to Idaho calling its first timeout. The Vandals would come back to take a 10-9 lead later in the set and the score would remain close for the next few points. A short 3-0 run by the Catamounts opened up a 16-3 lead in WCU's favor. The Catamounts would maintain that lead the rest of the way including closing the set with a 4-0 run to take a 25-17 victory.

The Vandals held the early lead in the second set but WCU would battle back to take a 9-8 lead. A 6-2 run late in the stanza by the Vandals opened up a 23-18 lead and Idaho would go on to claim a 25-19 second set win.

Idaho led most of the third set by one or two points. After a kill gave the Vandals a 23-21 lead, Western Carolina used its second timeout of the period. Two points later the Vandals would have WCU on the ropes at 24-22, but a kill by Cermin and an attack error tied the set at 24 and forced Idaho to use its second timeout. Out of the timeout, the two teams traded the next four points with Idaho having two chances to close out the set. With the period tied at 26, a ball-handling error gave WCU its first set point and a service ace by Vervelde closed out the set 28-26.

The fourth and final set saw the Catamounts use a 5-2 run over the last seven points of the match to win the set 25-21 and win the match 3-1.

Idaho was led by Becca Mau who had a match-high 19 kills. Kateyn Peterson added 13 kills, 18 digs and five blocks.

Against Tennessee Tech, Kohlhagen led the way offensively with 12 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore Katie O'Connor added 10 kills and four blocks while Vervelde had nine kills, 25 assists and 15 digs. Cermin once again led the team in blocks with five while also adding eight kills. Zupan also had eight kills to go along with 10 digs.

Nazario had 22 assists and six digs while Mulheron added 23 digs.

A 5-1 run midway through the first set gave Tennessee Tech a 16-10 lead, which they would not relinquish the rest of the way. The Golden Eagles went on to take the period 25-17.

The Golden Eagles led 10-5 early in the second set and looked to be cruising to another victory but WCU battled back with a 15-5 run to take a 20-15 lead. The run saw Mulheron serve seven-straight times and Vervelde served six-straight points. After the run, the Catamounts went on to take the set 25-18.

The Catamounts led late in the third set including having the first set point of the period at 24-23. A kill by TTU tied the set at 24 and an attack error gave the Golden Eagles their first set point. Cermin answered with a kill to tie the match at 25 but back-to-back kills by TTU's Shealene Little gave the Golden Eagles the set 27-25.

Tennessee Tech led most of the way in the fourth set and hung on to take a 25-21 victory and won the match 3-1.

The Golden Eagles were led by Cody Dodd who had a match-high 25 kills and 10 digs. Kellie Williams added 13 kills while Little had 12 kills and 11 digs.

The Catamounts will be back in action tomorrow at noon as they face Towson in their final match of the Golden Eagle Invitational.