CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Sophomore Julia Gardon, senior Merry Gebel, and freshman Bailey Hartsough each recorded 12 kills as Western Carolina volleyball picked up a 3-1 win over Chattanooga on Thursday afternoon on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. WCU won the match by scores of 27-25, 15-25, 25-15, 25-20.

The Catamounts even their overall record at 10-10 and improve to 6-3 in Southern Conference matches. Chattanooga drops to 6-16 and 2-7.

Gardon finished in double figures offensively for the fifth time this season. Gebel logged her 11^th double-double of the season as she added 15 digs while Hartsough finished in double figure kills for the third straight contest. Senior Sydney Carlson recorded her third double-double of the year with 21 assists and 16 digs while fellow setter, freshman Sarah Janourova, tallied 18 assists and 16 digs for her ninth double-double of the season. Sophomore Destinee Dorsey finished with a match-best 23 digs.

Gylian Finch led Chattanooga with 14 kills followed by Kate Neill with 12 and Coniah Davis with 11. Two-time reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week Paige Gallentine tallied 22 digs.

The first set featured three lead changes and 10 ties. After WCU took a set-high four-point lead, 14-10, Chattanooga battled back to even the frame at 17 on a Maia Rackel kill and pulled ahead 21-18 following an ace. A Coniah Davis kill gave Chattanooga a 24-21 lead, but the Catamounts fought off three set points for the Mocs and tied the set thanks to a Johnna Robinson block. After the Mocs pulled ahead 25-24, kills by Livi Weidmann and Hartsough gave the Catamounts set point with the first frame ending on a Chattanooga error.

Tied at eight in the second set, Chattanooga seized control with a 7-2 run that gave the visitors a 15-10 lead at the media timeout. The Mocs led by no fewer than four points the rest of the frame to even the match at 1.

WCU scored the first five points of the third set and never looked back as the Catamounts cruised to a 25-15 third set win for a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Catamounts turned a 9-8 deficit into a 12-9 lead with a 4-0 run and pushed their lead to 20-11 thanks to a MaKenzie White kill. Chattanooga pulled within two, 22-20, after an ace by Chandler Alter, but Hartsough answered with a kill and the Catamounts secured the victory with consecutive Gebel kills.

WCU concludes its four-match homestand on Friday, welcoming ETSU for a 5 p.m. contest.

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