CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina sent its four seniors out with a win in their home finale as the Catamounts swept Wofford 3-0 on Thursday evening. The Catamounts won by scores of 25-14, 25-23, and 25-19.

WCU improves to 9-7 overall and 9-5 in league matches while Wofford drops to 10-6 overall and in league play.

Merry Gebel led the Catamounts with 12 kills and tallied a match-best three service aces. Julia Gardon also finished in double figures in kills with 11.  Hannah Price distributed 33 assists. Destinee Dorsey tallied 17 digs. Eden Punch finished with five total blocks including two solo blocks.

Sarah Barham led Wofford with a match-best 16 kills. Abbey Richman had 16 digs while reigning SoCon Setter of the Week Emily Hodsdon tallied 32 assists.
The Catamounts raced out to a 15-3 lead in the opening set and led by no fewer than nine points the rest of the way to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

A closely contested second set featured seven lead changes and 16 ties. After the Terriers evened the frame at 23 thanks to a Barham kill, a kill by Gardon gave WCU set point. Caroline Perret's serve grazed the top of the net and dropped to the court untouched for an ace to clinch the set for the Catamounts.

WCU opened the third set with a 10-4 advantage but the Terriers battled back to take a 16-15 lead after a WCU error. The Catamounts didn't back down, scoring the next five points as a Gardon kill gave the hosts a 20-16 lead. Wofford pulled within three points on three occasions, the last being 22-19, but consecutive kills by Gardon and Gebel followed by a Terrier error concluded the match.

Senior MaKenzie White was honored in a rescheduled senior night ceremony prior to the match. She was joined by classmates Madison McNally, Caroline Perret, and Hannah Price in a group photo as the trio were honored on March 14.

The Catamounts head to UNCG for the final regular season matches of the season, facing the Spartans at 6 p.m. Sunday and 5 p.m. Monday. Sunday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).

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