TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Western Carolina senior
Merry Gebel recorded a career-high 27 kills in Saturday morning's finale at the Bama Bash, but Western Carolina was unable to complete a late rally in a 3-1 loss at tournament host Alabama.
Gebel's 27 kills – which are tied for the 12th-most by a Catamount in a match in program history – surpass her previous high of 25 set against The Citadel on Feb. 1, 2021. The Wildwood, Mo., native recorded 10 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
Julia Gardon tallied 11 kills and added 14 digs for her first double-double of the year, while
Livi Weidmann added 10 kills. Reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
Destinee Dorsey had 20 digs and
Sarah Janourova dished out a career-best 26 assists to lead the Catamounts.
Chaise Campbell paced Alabama with 13 kills followed by Kennedy Muckelroy with 11 and Abby Marjama with 10. Dru Kuck had a match-best 26 digs followed by Sami Jacobs with 13.
Alabama improved to 7-4 with the win while WCU dropped to 4-7.
Alabama tallied four of the first five points of the match for a 4-1 lead before back-to-back Weidmann kills gave the Catamounts an 8-5 lead. Trailing 15-14, a Gebel kill sparked a 6-1 run as the Catamounts took a 20-16 lead following an Alabama attack error. After the Crimson Tide scored three straight points to pull within one, the Catamounts regrouped following a timeout with two straight points and closed out the set with a Gardon kill.
WCU led the second set 3-1 following a kill by Gebel before the Crimson Tide grabbed an 11-10 lead after scoring four straight points. With the set tied at 12, Alabama went on a 5-1 run and led by no fewer than three points the rest of the way as a kill by Muckelroy ended the set.
With the Catamounts holding an 11-10 lead in the third set, the Crimson Tide went on a 5-0 run and took a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the set. With Alabama leading 24-18, WCU scored three straight points to pull within three, 24-21, after a block by Weidmann and
Eden Punch but an error ended the set.
Alabama raced out to a 9-1 lead in the fourth set and led 13-5 following a WCU error. The Catamounts didn't go quietly, using a 7-3 run to pull within four, 16-12, following a Gebel kill. Alabama extended its lead to 18-13 before a 6-1 WCU run capped by a Weidmann kill tied the match at 19. WCU took a 21-20 lead following a Crimson Tide error and led 23-21 thanks to a Gardon kill, but the Crimson Tide closed out the match on a 4-0 run to secure the win.
WCU opens Southern Conference play next weekend, heading to ETSU on Friday for a 7 p.m. match and closing out the weekend at Chattanooga at 6 p.m.
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