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Schedule

Full
2024 Volleyball Seniors
Catamount Athletics Creative Media
3
Winner Chattanooga UTC 17-13,7-8 SoCon
2
Western Caro. WCU 8-20,2-13 SoCon
Winner
Chattanooga UTC
17-13,7-8 SoCon
3
Final
2
Western Caro. WCU
8-20,2-13 SoCon
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Chattanooga UTC 25 25 19 23 19 (3)
Western Caro. WCU 18 17 25 25 17 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Mocs Spoil Volleyball Comeback on Senior Night

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina volleyball battled back from a 2-0 deficit on Friday night but could not complete the comeback, fighting through the final point as Chattanooga spoiled the Catamounts' senior night with a five-set win on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.

Prior to first serve on Friday, WCU honored the 2024 senior class consisting of Bailey Hartsough (LaGrange, Ind.), Ollie Henderson (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Sarah Janourova (Prague, Czech Republic) for the contributions to the program over the past four years in a special pre-match ceremony.

Junior Ali Morris finished off another double-double with a team-high 17 kills and 19 digs to pace the Catamounts. Sophomore Logan Carr posted 15 kills and two blocks, followed closely by junior Janelle Blue who posted a career-high of 13 kills and three rejections. Sophomore Zoe Zudans picked up her first collegiate double-double in defeat with 13 kills and a career-high 14 digs. Freshman Courtney Graham had a career night with 10 kills while also pacing the squad with four blocks including the first two solo stops of her career.

Janourova paced the Catamounts in the assist column by handing out 36 helpers to accompany eight digs as the Prague, Czech Republic native became the 11th player in WCU program history to eclipse 2,100 career assists. Sophomore Katie Boney added her seventh double-double of the season with 29 assists and 14 digs. Sophomore Eda Yalçinkaya joined Morris with a team-high 19 digs as freshman Halley Tang posted a career-best 17.

Chard'e Vanzandt led all players on Friday with 22 kills and three blocks, and Sydney Jackwin joined her with 20 kills and 21 digs for the Mocs. Erin Wyatt totaled 15 kills and six digs, while Marcelle Baez-Carlo added 11 digs and four blocks for Chattanooga. Elaine Redman led UTC with 67 assists along with 19 digs for the double-double while also adding four kills. On the defensive end, Paige Gallentine tallied 43 digs, while Kynli Kirkendoll joined Baez-Carlo with four rejections to lead the Mocs.

The two teams went back and forth early on in the opening set before an 8-4 run from UTC stretched its opening set lead to 13-9. The Catamounts were able to cut it to a two-point deficit before four unanswered from the Mocs made it 18-12, forcing a WCU timeout. Both teams traded points down the stretch, but the Mocs were able to keep a lead and hold on for the 25-18 opening-set victory.

The Mocs seized control of the match with a second-set win that saw four early ties before an 8-3 burst from the guests stretched it to a 15-10 lead at the media timeout. WCU was able to cut the deficit to three, 17-14 before the Mocs quickly stretched it back to five at 20-15 forcing WCU timeout. The Catamounts scored the first two out of the stoppage before a 5-0 run from the Mocs that gave them set two, 25-17.

Western Carolina was able to fend off the Mocs in a pivotal third set. After a tight start on both sides, the homestanding Catamounts flexed their muscles with a 6-2 run to take a 14-10 lead and force a UTC timeout just ahead of the media stoppage.The Mocs managed four of the next five points to cut the deficit to one before a 9-2 WCU run got the hosts to set points at 24-16. Chattanooga fought off three set points before freshman Peri Subat put it home and gave WCU the 25-19 set three win.

Chattanooga bounced back fast in the fourth set, opening with a 7-1 run to seize early control and force a WCU timeout. The Mocs were able to stretch the early lead out to seven before the Catamounts answered with a 9-4 run that made it a 15-13 UTC lead and forced the guests to spend a timeout. UTC pushed the lead to four, 20-16, before the Catamounts were able to close on a 9-3 burst to force a decisive fifth set on senior night.

WCU took an early 3-1 lead in the fifth before a 7-3 run from the Mocs allowed the guests to take the two-point lead to the media break and the side flip. The Catamounts scored three of the next four points to quickly even the set at nine before the two squads traded the next nine points as neither team looked to give up a sizeable lead. WCU took a 14-13 lead late with match point. The later stages of the set saw four late ties, but the Mocs put together a 6-3 run down the stretch to snatch the tight five-set win over WCU on Friday night.

The Catamounts turn their attention to the 2024 Southern Conference Tournament hosted by Wofford beginning on Thursday, Nov. 21st, with the championship set for Sunday, Nov. 24th. Seedings and matchups will be announced on Saturday following the conclusion of the SoCon volleyball play. All matches during the tournament will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), and live stats will be available for both matches on 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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