GREENVILLE, S.C. – Western Carolina came from behind late in the opening two sets and led from start to finish in the third set to record a 3-0 win over Furman on Friday at Alley Gym. The Catamounts won by scores of 26-24, 25-22, and 25-17.
 
WCU improves to 8-8 overall and 4-1 in Southern Conference matches while Furman drops to 6-9 and 1-4.
 
Senior Merry Gebel registered her third straight and the ninth double-double of the season with a team-best 11 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Eden Punch had a career-best night with nine kills and seven blocks. Classmate Destinee Dorsey recorded a team-high 18 digs while freshman Sarah Janourova tallied 16 assists.
 
Bella Tolone led Furman with a double-double, recording a match-high 12 kills and 10 digs. Maya Mrus had a match-best 19 digs while Sarah Turner distributed 20 assists.
 
The Catamounts raced out to an 8-2 lead in the opening set capped by a Gebel kill. The Paladins used a 4-1 run to trim the Catamount lead to three, 11-8 before WCU scored three straight to push its lead back to six as the Paladins used a timeout. Furman rallied back to even the set at 16 with neither team leading by more than two points for the remainder of the frame. Trailing 23-21, the Catamounts scored three straight points and after the Paladins evened the frame at 24, a White kill followed by a Furman error gave WCU the opening set.
 
WCU led 8-4 in the second set before Furman used a 7-0 run for an 11-8 advantage. Following a Dunn kill which gave the hosts a 17-12 lead, a Gebel kill sparked a 5-1 run which brought the Catamounts within one, 18-17. After a Punch kill tied the set at 21, Ollie Henderson entered the match to serve and delivered back-to-back service aces to give WCU a lead it wouldn't relinquish as a Gardon kill closed out the set.
 
A block by Punch and Haley Multerer gave WCU a 7-2 advantage in the third set. A Sydney Tanner kill brought Furman within two, 14-12 before WCU scored seven of the next eight points for a 21-13 lead. Johnna Robinson ended the match with her fourth kill of the night as the Catamounts earned their second sweep in league play.
 
WCU remains on the road Saturday, traveling to Wofford for a 7 p.m. contest.
 
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