CLEMSON, S.C. – Senior Livi Weidmann totaled a season-high 14 kills and hit at a .458 clip as the Western Carolina volleyball team dropped its tournament finale to South Alabama on Sunday afternoon in the Clemson Invitational inside Jervey Gym. The Jaguars won by the scores of 25-19, 25-21 and 25-20.
The Catamounts fall to 1-5 as South Alabama improved to 6-0 on the 2023 season.
Weidmann posted her best performance of 2023 on Sunday with a team-best 14 kills and added three blocks on the defensive end. Weidmann also received all-tournament team honors for her performance throughout the weekend.
Ali Morris tallied 10 kills and added nine digs for WCU as Sarah Janourova had a team-best 20 assists along with 11 digs for her third double-double of the season. In Sunday's match, Janourova eclipsed the 1,000 assist plateau in her WCU career and is the 16th player in program history to accomplish this feat. The junior also recorded her 500th dig in Sunday's contest.
South Alabama was led by Hannah Maddux who had 15 kills as Maddie Soboleski added 12 kills and eight digs to her stat line. Kailey Keeble led all players on Sunday with 39 assists and totaled eight digs. Paige Lynn led the Jaguars with 14 assists and three aces.
South Alabama opened the match on a 5-2 run to gain an early edge before a 5-3 spurt from WCU cut it to a one-point margin. The two teams remained tight before a quick two points gave the Jaguars a 15-13 lead at the media break. South Alabama tallied three of the next four points to force a Western Carolina timeout. After the stoppage, the Catamounts responded with the next three points before a 7-2 burst from the Jaguars gave them a 25-19 set one victory.
WCU came out fast in set two with a 7-3 run to begin at the start before the Jaguars answered with four of the next six points to cut it to a two-point score and force a Catamount timeout. The Jaguars pushed in front behind a 5-1 run to take a 14-12 lead that forced a second WCU timeout. The Catamounts managed to cut the deficit to one, 17-16 before the Jaguars stretched it to a 22-17 lead and ultimately hung on for a 25-21 set two win.
The start of set three featured six ties and five lead changes in the early going before an 8-2 run by the Jaguars gave them a 17-12 lead forcing a Catamount timeout. The Catamounts and Jaguars continued to trade runs throughout the remainder of the set before South Alabama ultimately claimed set three 25-20 and the match on Sunday.
The Catamounts open their 2023 home schedule on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. first serve against UNC Asheville on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online through CatamountSports.com. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the match against the Bulldogs as a part of WHITE OUT WEEK that culminates with the "White Out Whitmire" football game against Samford on Saturday, Sept. 9.
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).
