CULLOWHEE, N.C. – After playing their first six matches of the season on the road, the Western Carolina volleyball team opens the home portion of its season this weekend as the Catamounts host Chattanooga in Southern Conference action. The Mocs and Catamounts square off at 3 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Monday with both matches streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).
 
WCU is 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the SoCon after dropping two matches at Samford last week. Junior Merry Gebel had double-doubles in both matches and tied a career-high with 19 digs in Sunday's contest in Birmingham. The Catamounts opened the season with a pair of matches against ACC-foe Clemson before splitting the two-game conference set at The Citadel.
 
Chattanooga is 4-2 and 2-2 after two road losses at Wofford last weekend after opening the league schedule with two wins against UNCG. The Mocs enter the weekend ranked second in digs in the SoCon and have the league's leader in digs in freshman Paige Gallentine with 5.0 per set. Of Chattanooga's six matches this season, four have gone to five sets with the team holding a 3-1 record in contests that went the distance.
 
In 2019, the Catamounts swept the season series for the first time since 2013 with a pair of 3-0 wins. WCU leads the all-time series 44-41.
 
The Catamounts are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 24, hosting Wofford at 6 p.m. in the first of two rescheduled matches with the Terriers.
 
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, @CatamountVB).