Final Stats

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Western Carolina volleyball team picked up its first Southern Conference loss of the season after falling 3-0 to Chattanooga Saturday evening. The Mocs committed just eight attack errors in the match in route to a .384 team attack percentage as they downed the Catamounts in three. Western Carolina was coming off a tough 3-2 victory over Wofford at home the night before and struggled to get going early as the Mocs took advantage of their home court.

The Mocs never trailed in the opening set after jumping out to a 7-2 lead. Chattanooga eventually closed the first set 25-17. WCU scored the first three points of the second set but a 17-3 run by the Mocs put the set out of reach as Chattanooga took a 25-12 victory. The Catamounts led most of the first half of the third set but a 4-0 run gave Chattanooga a 19-15 lead. WCU was unable to reel the Mocs back in as Chattanooga closed out the match 25-18.

Sophomore Katie O'Connor led the Catamount attack with six kills on 12 swings with just one error for a .417 attack percentage. Sophomore Jo-Leigh Vervelde and senior Nicole Ford added five kills each in the match. Vervelde tacked on 11 assists, 11 digs, two service aces and a pair of blocks to complete her all around effort.

Freshmen Savannah Kohlhagen and Alyssa Zupan and junior Lauren Zaxby all added four kills to the effort. Senior libero Elyssa Mulheron led the Catamounts with 15 digs while senior setter Cristina Nazario dished out a team-high 16 assists.

Chattanooga’s Allie Davenport had a match high 17 kills while Sarah Batterton added nine.

The loss drops WCU’s record to 7-11 and 1-1 in Southern Conference play while the win gives Chattanooga a perfect 2-0 start to SoCon play and a 13-2 overall mark.

The Catamounts will return to the friendly confines of the Ramsey Center on Wednesday, Sept. 30 as they welcome in Furman for a 7 pm match.