Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina volleyball returns to the Ramsey Center this weekend, opening a four-match homestand against UNCG on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a Homecoming Saturday contest against chromatic rival Furman at Noon prior to the gridiron battle between the Paladins and Catamounts at 3:30 p.m.
Friday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Live stats are available for both matches via links on catamountsports.com. Fans attending Saturday's match can pick up any remaining ducks for the fourth annual Great Catamount Duck Race presented by State Farm agent Mike Colombo inside the Ramsey Center beginning at 11 a.m.
Western Carolina enters the weekend third in the Southern Conference standings with a 12-9 overall record and a 6-2 SoCon mark after a 3-2 loss at Samford last Saturday. The Catamounts had five players finish in double figures in kills led by Merry Gebel with 17, Abigail Veit had 14 kills followed by Haley Multerer and MaKenzie White both with 11 and Aleah Keaton with 10. Hannah Price had 50 assists, surpassing the 50-assist mark for the third time this season.
UNCG is 9-13 overall and 3-5 in the SoCon following a 3-1 win over Mercer on Saturday evening. WCU has won the last three matches in the series including a 3-0 sweep in Greensboro to open SoCon play on Sept. 27. Merry Gebel recorded a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs in the win. The Catamounts hold a 28-25 advantage in the all-time series.
Furman is 4-15 overall and 4-4 in league matches having won four of their last five matches after a 3-2 home win over Mercer on Friday. The Catamounts edged the Paladins 3-2 in a hard-fought match on Sept. 28 in Greenville as Abigail Veit and Merry Gebel both had a match-best 24 kills. Saturday's match is the 79th all-time matchup with Furman leading 45-33.
The Catamounts remain at home next weekend, hosting Chattanooga on Nov. 1 and Mercer on Nov. 2. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount volleyball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts) and Twitter (@catamounts, @wcu_volleyball).
