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Women's Volleyball Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Volleyball Travels to Charleston for Midweek SoCon Action

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina volleyball hits the road for the first time in Southern Conference play as the Catamounts travel to Charleston to battle The Citadel on Wednesday night. The match is set to take place at McAlister Field House in Charleston and be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online through catamountsports.com. 
 
Matchup: Western Carolina (4-9, 1-1 SoCon) at The Citadel (14-0, 2-0 SoCon)  
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Site: McAlister Field House (Charleston, S.C.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Live Video: ESPN+
Twitter: @CatamountVB
 
The Catamounts opened league play with a 1-1 record in a pair of five-set matches defeating ETSU before falling to Furman to wrap up the opening weekend. WCU was led on the weekend by sophomore Ali Morris and junior Sarah Janourova. Both Morris and Janourova finished with two double-doubles as Morris tallied 13 kills and 10 digs against ETSU while adding 17 kills and a career-high 22 digs vs Furman. Janourova began SoCon play with 30 assists and 17 digs against the Bucs before recording 25 assists and 15 digs against Furman in the back half of the weekend.
 
Wednesday's match features the top two teams in league play in kills as WCU has tallied 118 kills with the Bulldogs totaling 117 during the opening weekend of conference play. The Catamounts also lead the way in SoCon matches with 17 service aces led by Morris with five. Morris is fifth in SoCon action with 30 kills while also ranking fifth in points scored with 36. The Knoxville, Tenn. native is tied atop the league in conference matches with the aforementioned five aces.
 
The Citadel enters Wednesday's match unblemished in 14 contests during the 2023 season which includes eight victories coming in straight sets including the Bulldogs last win over SoCon foe Samford. The Bulldogs are led on the offensive end by preseason-all conference selection Ali Ruffin who's earned three offensive player of the week's from the league thus far. Ruffin sits atop the conference with 246 kills along with 22 aces. Belle Hogan leads the way for Citadel with conference-high 555 assists along with adding 21 blocks as she's earned a pair of conference setter of the week awards. Jaelynn Elgert leads The Citadel defensively with 242 digs while adding 43 assists and 19 service aces. The Bulldogs were picked to finish sixth in the 2023 preseason poll under the direction of Dave Zelenock who's in his sixth season at the helm of the Bulldogs.

Western Carolina holds a 36-10 advantage in the all-time series with The Citadel as the Catamounts claimed both meetings during the 2022 season and only dropped a single set in Charleston. WCU has won six of the past eight meetings dating back to the 2019 season.

Following Wednesday's matchup in Charleston, the Catamounts return home for a 6 p.m. first serve on Saturday, Sept. 30 when WCU plays host to Mercer on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The matchup with the Bears will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) and live stats will be provided by catamountsports.com.
 
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

Sarah Janourova

#12 Sarah Janourova

S
5' 9"
Junior
Ali Morris

#3 Ali Morris

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sarah Janourova

#12 Sarah Janourova

5' 9"
Junior
S
Ali Morris

#3 Ali Morris

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH