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Women's Volleyball 8/22/2024 2:00:00 PM Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Catamounts Host Gardner-Webb in Preseason Action

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Western Carolina volleyball team takes to the court for the first time in 2024 in exhibition action on Friday, Aug. 23, as the Catamounts host Gardner-Webb with first serve set for 6 p.m. from Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center.

Admission to Friday's match – and all home matches throughout the 2024 season – is free of charge, presented by First Bank. Please note that neither live stats nor live video will be available for the exhibition match.

Under the direction of 14-year head coach Karen Glover, Western Carolina returns nine players from a year ago including five starters, while welcoming six newcomers this season. Senior Bailey Hartsough (336 kills, 32 aces) and junior Ali Morris (308 kills, 29 aces) lead the offensive attack that returned from a season ago. A Southern Conference All-Freshman team selection last season, sophomore Logan Carr returns as the top defensive threat for WCU with 90 rejections to accompany 128 kills from the middle block.

WCU's six newcomers include five true freshmen and Temple transfer Samantha Jo Mikosky, who totaled 71 blocks in her sophomore season with the Owls.

Glover and second-year associate head coach Taylor Svehla added a second assistant in former Georgia State volleyball standout Ava Vlkovic. The Catamounts were selected eighth in the 2024 SoCon Volleyball Preseason Coaches' poll released earlier this month.

Gardner-Webb posted a 14-13 record and an 8-6 mark in Big South matches last season. The Runnin' Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Alex Hinsey who spent the past four years as the head coach of NCAA Division III University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.

Junior setter Morgan Hornaday leads the Runnin' Bulldogs as their top returner. Hornaday garnered an All-Academic Team selection while tallying 333 assists, and libero Molly Littlefield was also a key contributor last year with 197 digs and 34 service aces.

Gardner-Webb was picked seventh in the eight-team 2024 Big South Volleyball Preseason Poll as selected by the head coaches.

Western Carolina begins the regular season a week from Friday, meeting former SoCon counterpart the College of Charleston on Friday, Aug. 30, as part of the North Carolina Tournament, hosted by the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. WCU also faces Cleveland State the next afternoon before battling the hosts on Sunday, Sept. 1 to close out the opening weekend of action. The UNC match will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra (paid subscription required) and through the Watch ESPN app.

WCU's 29-match schedule culminates with a neutral floor SoCon Volleyball Championship as the league crown will be decided inside the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville Nov. 21-24.

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

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

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

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

#7 Samantha Jo Mikosky: MB; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#7 Samantha Jo Mikosky
: 6' 3"; Junior
: MB