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Women's Volleyball Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Volleyball Opens 2023 Season at Classic City Clash

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina volleyball is set to begin its 2023 season on Friday as the Catamounts travel to the Classic City Clash in Athens, Ga. hosted by the University of Georgia. WCU opens the season against Florida State on Friday at 3:00 p.m. before facing the host Bulldogs on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and the tournament finale is set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday against UConn.

Matchup: Western Carolina vs Florida State
Date: Friday, Aug. 25
Time: 3 pm
Site: Ramsey Student Center (Athens, Ga.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Twitter: @CatamountVB

Matchup: Western Carolina at Georgia
Date: Saturday, Aug. 26
Time: 10:30 am
Site: Ramsey Student Center (Athens, Ga.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Live Video: SEC Network +
Twitter: @CatamountVB
 
Matchup: Western Carolina vs UConn
Date: Saturday, Aug. 26
Time: 2:30 pm
Site: Ramsey Student Center (Athens, Ga.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Twitter: @CatamountVB

The Catamounts hosted its lone exhibition match of the preseason last Saturday against USC Upstate with all 17 players on the roster seeing playing time. WCU was tabbed to finish fourth in the Southern Conference poll, while both senior Eden Punch and junior Bailey Hartsough were selected to the preseason all-conference team.

Florida State was picked to finish in a tie for fourth in the ACC with juniors Audrey Koenig and Khori Louis earning preseason all-conference recognition. The Seminoles went 19-11 in 2022 including a pair of three-game win streaks in ACC action. FSU and WCU are set to square off on Friday for the first time in the program's respective histories.

The host Bulldogs were selected fourth in the SEC preseason poll as Georgia made it to the second round of last season's NCAA tournament. UGA is led by graduate student Kacie Evans and senior Sophie Fischer who both earned Preseason All-SEC honors from the league during the preseason. UGA finished 23-8 last season. Georgia and Western Carolina meet for the ninth time in the program's history with the Bulldogs taking the prior eight as the two teams meet for the first time in 14 years on Saturday.

WCU will conclude the opening weekend with a matchup against UConn on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies were tabbed fifth in the Big East Preseason Poll as they are led by Taylor Pannell who totaled 199 kills and 98 blocks a season ago. The Catamounts and Huskies meet on Saturday for the first time since 2005 with UConn taking the only prior meeting between the two schools.
 
Following Saturday's finale with UConn, the Catamounts are set to head to the Clemson Invitational to battle the host Tigers along with Green Bay and South Alabama beginning on Friday, September 1.
 
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).
 
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Players Mentioned

Bailey Hartsough

#8 Bailey Hartsough

OH
5' 10"
Junior
Eden Punch

#17 Eden Punch

MB
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Bailey Hartsough

#8 Bailey Hartsough

5' 10"
Junior
OH
Eden Punch

#17 Eden Punch

5' 10"
Senior
MB