Women's Volleyball 9/7/2023 11:00:00 AM Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Catamounts Travel to Phoenix Volley for Unity Beginning on Friday

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Following Tuesday's home-opening sweep, Western Carolina volleyball looks to carry the momentum on the road on Friday night for the Phoenix Volley for Unity hosted by former SoCon foe Elon. WCU begins the weekend with a 6 p.m. first serve against the host Phoenix on Friday night before a 4 p.m. start against N.C. Central on Saturday afternoon with both matches taking place at Schar Center on the campus of Elon University.

Both matches will be shown on FloSports (paid subscription required) with live stats available online through CatamountSports.com.

Matchup: Western Carolina (2-5) at Elon (1-6)
Date: Friday, Sept. 8
Time: 6 p.m.
Site: Schar Center (Elon, N.C.)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Live Video: FloSports
Twitter: @CatamountVB

Matchup: Western Carolina vs N.C. Central (1-4)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Schar Center (Elon, N.C.)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Live Video: FloSports
Twitter: @CatamountVB

The Catamounts began their 2023 home schedule on Tuesday night with a 3-0 sweep of mountain-rival UNC Asheville at Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. Sophomore Ali Morris led the way offensively for WCU on Tuesday with 13 kills on 23 swings over the Bulldogs. Junior Sarah Janourova tallied 20 assists and freshman Eda Yalçinkaya had 16 digs to pace the defense. Western Carolina hit a season-high .294 in the win.

Freshman Logan Carr has begun her collegiate career fast on the defensive end for Western Carolina as Carr is tied for the league lead with 25 blocks as she's one of three SoCon players to be averaging a block per set thus far in 2023.

Elon enters the weekend with a 1-6 record following a straight set defeat on Tuesday at ACC foe Duke. The Phoenix were victorious last weekend in a sweep of S.C. State as part of the Wofford Invitational. Cameron Lanier leads the attack for Elon with 52 kills as she's also recorded 12 blocks on the defensive end. Jessica Parker leads the Phoenix with 117 assists on the campaign. Elon was tabbed seventh in the CAA Preseason Poll as the Phoenix are led by Mary Tendler who's in her 21st season leading the program. Jordan Gower and Sydney Love both earned honorable mention from the conference coaches in the preseason awards.

N.C. Central begins the weekend with a 1-4 mark after falling in five sets on Tuesday night to Campbell. The Eagles earned a win last weekend in five set over Gardner-Webb. Emmie Modlin paces the Eagles with 77 kills just ahead of Kamren Harper who's recorded 75 on the season for NCCU. Bella Dearinger has a team-high 154 assists averaging 6.7 per set thru N.C. Central's first five matches. On the defensive end, Loren Johnson leads the way for the Eagles with 66 digs on the year. NCCU was tabbed fifth in the MEAC Preseason Poll and are under the direction of Jody Brown who's in his eighth season at the helm.

Elon leads the all-time series with Western Carolina 17-10 as the Catamounts earned the last win in the series coming back in 2014 when WCU won in straight sets as part of the Deacon Classic in Winston Salem, N.C… The Catamounts have taken all three prior meetings from N.C. Central which includes a 3-0 sweep of the Eagles last season in the season opening tournament at Wake Forest. In the matchup a season ago with the Eagles, current WCU junior Bailey Hartsough tallied a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs in the victory.

Following Saturday's matchup with N.C. Central, the Catamounts close out their non-conference slate with a trip to the Lone Star State to take part in the Fight in the Fort hosted by TCU beginning on Friday, Sept. 15 when WCU faces off with Hawaii with first serve set for 4 p.m. EST. The non-conference schedule concludes the next evening with a matchup against the host Horned Frogs slated for 7 p.m. EST on Big 12 Now (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

#8 Bailey Hartsough: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#12 Sarah Janourova: S; 5' 9"; Junior

#3 Ali Morris: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#13 Logan Carr: MB; 6' 3"; Freshman

#20 Eda Yalçinkaya: L; 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#8 Bailey Hartsough
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#12 Sarah Janourova
: 5' 9"; Junior
: S

#3 Ali Morris
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH

#13 Logan Carr
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: MB

#20 Eda Yalçinkaya
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: L

Western Carolina University

Schedule

Catamounts Travel to Phoenix Volley for Unity Beginning on Friday

Players Mentioned

#8 Bailey Hartsough

#12 Sarah Janourova

#3 Ali Morris

#13 Logan Carr

#20 Eda Yalçinkaya

Players Mentioned

#8 Bailey Hartsough

#12 Sarah Janourova

#3 Ali Morris

#13 Logan Carr

#20 Eda Yalçinkaya