CHARLESTON, S.C. – Junior Sarah Janourova tallied 15 assists and 12 digs for her team-high seventh double-double, while freshman Katie Boney totaled her second double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs, but Western Carolina volleyball was unable to hold off The Citadel in a 3-0 setback inside McAlister Field House on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs won the match by the scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-21.
Western Carolina falls to 4-10 and 1-2 in conference play as The Citadel improves to 15-0 and 3-0 in SoCon matches.
Eden Punch led the Catamounts on the offensive end with nine kills and a .563 hitting percentage as the senior added three blocks to her stat line. Setters Janourova and Boney both had double-doubles with assists and digs, Boney earning her first in SoCon action. Ali Morris led WCU on the defensive end with 15 digs while adding six kills.
The Bulldogs were led offensively by Ali Ruffin who tallied a match-high 12 kills and also picked up 15 digs to lead the way for The Citadel. Belle Hogan paced the Bulldogs with 26 assists and added 12 digs in Wednesday's action. Jaelynn Elgert joined Ruffin with 15 digs on the defensive end for the hosts.
Western Carolina got out to an early 5-3 lead in the opening set on Wednesday before six of the next 10 points were claimed by the Bulldogs to make it even at nine. The Citadel closed the first half of set one on a 6-3 run to take a 15-12 advantage to the media break. WCU went on an 8-4 spurt out of the stoppage to push in front 20-19 and force the home squad to call a timeout. The Bulldogs quickly evened it at 21 forcing a WCU timeout. The Bulldogs were able to control the momentum late with four of the final five points to take the set 25-22.
The Catamounts started quickly in the second set with a 7-4 lead right out of the gates to gain the early edge. The Citadel was able to flip the scoreboard and even the set at 11 with a 7-4 run of its own. The hosts scored four of the next five points to take a 15-12 lead at the media break. The Catamounts came out of the timeout fast with a 5-1 burst to take a 17-16 lead and force a Bulldog timeout. The two teams went back and forth to lead to a 20-20 tie late in the set as The Citadel closed on a 5-2 run to claim the set 25-22 and gain a 2-0 lead.
The third set started tight featuring a pair of early ties before the Bulldogs went on a 6-2 run to claim a 10-6 lead forcing a Catamounts timeout. The two teams traded four-point spurts over the next eight points before a quick two points cut the Cadets lead to 14-12 at the midpoint of set three. The Bulldogs created separation using a 7-4 run to take a 21-16 advantage leading to a WCU timeout. WCU pushed back with a quick 4-2 burst to cut it to 23-20 before the Bulldogs took two of the final three points to claim the match on Wednesday night.
The Catamounts return home for a 6 p.m. first serve on Saturday, Sept. 30 when WCU welcomes Mercer to 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.
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