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Women's Volleyball Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Catamounts Set to Host UNC Asheville on Tuesday Night

Fans are Encouraged to Wear White to the Match

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina volleyball begins its 2023 home slate on Tuesday evening as the Catamounts host mountain-rival UNC Asheville at 6 p.m. on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. Tuesday's tilt with the Bulldogs will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with live stats available online through CatamountSports.com. 
 
Tuesday's home-opening match is a part of "White Out Week" that also includes Thursday night's women's soccer match against rival Appalachian State (7 p.m.) and culminates with the home-opening "White Out Whitmire" football game against defending SoCon champion Samford on Saturday, Sept. 9. Fans are encouraged to wear their white WCU gear to each home event this week.

Matchup: UNC Asheville (3-3) vs Western Carolina (1-5)
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 5
Time: 6 p.m.
Site: Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center (Cullowhee, N.C.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Live Video: ESPN+
Twitter: @CatamountVB

Ali Morris and Livi Weidmann paced the Catamounts offensively last weekend through three matches in the Clemson Invitational. Morris tallied a pair of career-highs in Saturday's win over Green Bay with 20 kills and 19 digs, adding 10 kills in Sunday's matchup against South Alabama. Weidmann, who earned all-tournament team honors from the weekend, had a pair of match-highs for WCU with 10 kills against Clemson and 14 kills against South Alabama. Junior Sarah Janourova led the Catamounts with 64 assists and 31 digs as the junior eclipsed both the 1,000 assist plateau and 500 dig mark on Sunday afternoon. Senior Eden Punch finished with 12 blocks on the weekend, recording her 200th career block on Saturday.

UNC Asheville heads into Tuesday's match with a 3-3 record after a pair of straight-set defeats at the hands of SoCon foe Furman last time out. The Bulldogs claimed victories to begin 2023 against Alabama A&M, N.C. Central and Maryland Eastern Shore. Matilde Teixeira leads Asheville with 55 kills as Kylie Cackovic has put 44 kills on the stat sheet through six matches. Ona Elkins paces the way for the Bulldogs totaling 78 assists. Baylor Heriehy has a team-high 29 blocks so far in 2023 for Asheville.
 
UNCA was picked eighth in the eight-team Big South Conference preseason coaches poll. Of a 30-player roster for first-year head coach Amber Haver, 19 players are new mixing with 11 returners from a squad that finished 4-22 in 2022.
 
Western Carolina holds a 28-25 edge in the head-to-head series with UNC Asheville including a 3-0 victory over the Bulldogs last August in Asheville. In last year's road win, the Catamounts were led by Bailey Hartsough who tallied 12 kills and added 12 digs on the defensive end. Janourova added a double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs in the matchup with the Bulldogs. WCU has a 14-8 record against Asheville on its home court including each of the last three matches in straight sets. The two squads have split the last six head-to-head meetings evenly, 3-3.

The Catamounts return to the road on Friday in tournament action at the Phoenix Volley for Unity hosted by Elon. Western Carolina battles the host Phoenix on Friday, September 8, at 6 p.m. before squaring off with N.C. Central on the next afternoon at 4 p.m. Both matches will be shown on FloSports (paid subscription required).
 
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
Sarah Janourova

#12 Sarah Janourova

S
5' 9"
Junior
Ali Morris

#3 Ali Morris

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore
Eden Punch

#17 Eden Punch

MB
5' 10"
Senior
Livi Weidmann

#16 Livi Weidmann

RS
5' 11"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Bailey Hartsough

#8 Bailey Hartsough

5' 10"
Junior
OH
Sarah Janourova

#12 Sarah Janourova

5' 9"
Junior
S
Ali Morris

#3 Ali Morris

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH
Eden Punch

#17 Eden Punch

5' 10"
Senior
MB
Livi Weidmann

#16 Livi Weidmann

5' 11"
Senior
RS