CHARLESTON, S.C. – Fifth-year senior Merry Gebel tallied a team-high 17 kills, and classmate Sydney Carlson posted a double-double as Western Carolina earned a 3-1 win over The Citadel on Sunday afternoon at McAlister Field House. The Catamounts won by scores of 25-16, 25-12, 23-25, and 25-22.

WCU improves to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in SoCon matches while The Citadel drops to 8-7 and 1-1.

Gebel finished in double figures offensively for the 14^th time this season and the second time in as many days with her 17 kills. Carlson had a team-best 21 assists and 12 digs for her third double-double of the season. Destinee Dorsey had a team-best 16 digs while Johnna Robinson swatted six blocks. Bailey Hartsough narrowly missed a double-double with eight kills and nine digs.

Ali Ruffin led The Citadel with 18 kills and 18 digs. Belle Hogan dished out a match-best 39 assists.

WCU got off to a fast start, taking a 5-1 lead early in the opening set. Following a Delancey kill that evened the set at 13, WCU took the next three points for a 16-13 advantage and used a 7-0 run to gain separation after the Bulldogs pulled within a point. A Livi Weidmann kill gave WCU an opening set victory.

Tied at three in the second set, the Catamounts used a 4-0 spurt to gain control of the frame and enjoyed a 21-8 advantage after a Weidmann block. Eden Punch's kill ended the set to give the Catamounts a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Catamounts held a 19-16 lead in the third set, but The Citadel mounted a furious rally late to force a fourth set.

With the fourth set score tied at nine, WCU took six of the next seven points to lead 15-10 at the media timeout. A Robinson kill gave WCU a 24-18 lead, but the Bulldogs didn't go quietly as they took the next four points to trim the Catamount lead to two points before Gebel ended the match with a kill.

The Catamounts return to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center next weekend, hosting Chattanooga on Friday and ETSU on Saturday with both matches beginning at 6 p.m.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount volleyball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts, @catamountvb), and Twitter (@catamounts, @catamountvb).