RICHMOND, Ky. – Western Carolina senior outside hitter Merry Gebel logged her fourth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs, but the Catamounts dropped a 3-1 decision to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in the final match of the 2021 Colonel Challenge.
 
WCU is 3-5 on the season.
 
Gebel finished in double figure kills for the sixth time this season and the second time in the tournament. She was named to the all-tournament team after compiling 43 kills and 24 digs during the three-match tournament. Sophomore Destinee Dorsey had a team-best 16 digs while Sydney Carlson handed out 20 assists.
 
Molly Michalak led three EKU players in double figures with 16 kills followed by Sarah Mitchell with 15 and Mikayla Logan with 10.
 
The Catamounts tallied the first two points of the match before a Michalak kill gave the hosts a 7-5 advantage. WCU answered with six straight points for an 11-7 lead and never looked back for the rest of the set as a Gebel kill closed out the set and gave WCU a 1-0 lead for the match.
 
WCU opened the second set on a 7-2 run before the Colonels used a 5-0 run in the middle stages of the set to take a 15-12 lead. With the set tied at 19, EKU tallied three straight points for a 22-19 lead. The Catamounts weren't done, pulling within a point on three occasions but Marshall clinched the set with a kill.
 
EKU raced out to an 8-3 lead in the third set before the Catamounts pulled within two, 11-9, thanks to an error. The Colonels regrouped and scored five straight for a 16-9 advantage. A block by Johnna Robinson and Livi Weidmann pulled WCU within three, 23-20, but the Colonels took the set following blocks by Michalak and Logan.
 
Leading 17-14 in the fourth set, Eastern Kentucky tallied eight of the final 10 points in the set and clinched the match with a kill by Michalak.
 
WCU plays its final nonconference tournament next weekend, heading to the Bama Bash hosted by Alabama. The Catamounts face Houston at 11 a.m. and Tennessee Tech at 4 p.m. Friday before wrapping up the tournament against Alabama at 11 a.m. Saturday.
 
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