Spartanburg, S.C. – Following a career-high tying 51 assists in a five-set comeback victory over Big 12 Conference opponent Texas Tech as part of a 134-assist weekend, Western Carolina junior setter Katie Boney was today named the Southern Conference Volleyball Setter of the Week as the league announced its weekly awards.
Boney, a product of Brookhaven, Ga., earned her first career weekly honor after leading the SoCon in assists per set at 11.17, dishing out 134 helpers on the weekend. She was one of just two players in the league to eclipse the 100-assist mark on the weekend with her league-high 134. She also added 22 digs and seven kills as WCU opened the season 2-1.
Boney is the first Catamount to garner setter of the week plaudits since the spring 2021 season, when Hannah Price collected a pair of honors from the SoCon.
In Friday's regular-season opener, Boney made a statement in a thrilling five-set comeback, coming out firing with 12 assists in an opening set win for the Catamounts. After Texas Tech advanced the lead to 2-1 through three, Boney filled the stat sheet once again down the stretch with 11 helpers in each of the final two sets as WCU rallied back to earn its first Power Four Conference win since 2022. Boney set up 11 of the Catamounts' 12 kills recorded in the final set against the Red Raiders. She also added six digs, three kills, and a block for WCU in the winning effort.
Boney continued her strong efforts in Friday's opening-day finale, adding 48 more assists to her total to accompany six digs and a pair of blocks, in a four-set win over MAC opponent, Kent State. In the win over the Golden Flashes, Boney tallied nine or more assists in all four sets, including 16 on the team's 17 kills in the third set that went extra points, and was the lone set that WCU fell to KSU.
Boney capped her strong opening weekend in Boca Raton, Fla., with 35 more assists and 10 digs against the host FAU for her first double-double of the season, and the 10th of her career in the loss to the Owls.
Western Carolina (2-1) stays closer to home this weekend, traveling to Asheville to participate in the inaugural Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic, presented by Ingles Markets. The event, which opens Friday, Sept. 5, is in conjunction with Explore Asheville, the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, and Lightstrike.
The Catamounts battle former SoCon foe, College of Charleston, on Friday at 7 p.m. before facing both Bradley (11 a.m.) and Charlotte (7 p.m.) the next day at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, site of the 2025 SoCon Volleyball Championship in November. Tickets for the weekend's events in Asheville are on sale online through BlueRidgeVolleyballClassic.com or Ticketmaster.com and at the iHeart Media Asheville Box Office located at the venue.
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).
