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Schedule

Full
Samantha Kranzler vs Furman
Jessalyn Simpson, Athletics Creative Media
1
Furman Furman 9-9,3-4 SoCon
3
Winner Western Caro. WCU 6-14,2-5 SoCon
Furman Furman
9-9,3-4 SoCon
1
Final
3
Western Caro. WCU
6-14,2-5 SoCon
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Furman Furman 23 25 23 23 (1)
Western Caro. WCU 25 16 25 25 (3)

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

Cobb, Kranzler Propel Catamounts to Four-Set Victory

Cullowhee, N.C. – Sophomore Samantha Kranzler and freshman Ashlyn Cobb led the offense with double-doubles as Western Carolina split the weekend series with Furman, winning a four-set match on Saturday afternoon on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The Catamounts won 25-23, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23.

Kranzler earned her third double-double of the season with 13 kills & 13 digs as she hit a season-best .423 for WCU. Cobb added her seventh double-double of the year with 11 kills and 12 digs, plus two aces and a pair of blocks. Sophomore Tatum Sharp contributed eight kills and four blocks. Senior Zoe Zudans added five kills while freshman Aiyana Harris and junior transfer Sophia Marini each had four.

Senior Katie Boney tallied her eighth double-double of the season, passing out 37 helpers, plus 10 digs and four kills. Boney now has 30+ assists in 15 matches in 2026. Defensively, Kranzler led with 13 digs, followed by 12 apiece from Cobb and sophomore Elise Gurley. Sharp's four blocks led the Catamounts, with Marini and Cobb each adding two stops.

Lauren Haynes led a quartet of players in double figures for the Paladins with 12 kills and 14 digs, plus five blocks. Izzy Castelloe totaled 11 kills and five digs with three stops of her own. Amber Watson and Tennyson Gorman each added 10 kills for the guests. Kacie Moore had eight kills with nine blocks, leading all players. Morgan Baldridge led Furman with 26 helpers, and Emily Navarro added 17. Ashtan Dodson paced the guests with 16 digs.

Western Carolina jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the opening set, but Furman answered with a 9-4 run to take a tight 12-11 lead. WCU bounced back with seven of the following 10 points to take an 18-15 advantage as the set went down the stretch. The set stayed tight late, with both teams trading blows before a late kill from junior Peri Subat clinched a 25-23 opening-set win.

The start of the second set saw seven ties between the two squads before an 8-0 run from Furman stretched their lead to 18-10. WCU pulled within six points, 20-14, before the Paladins closed the set scoring five of the final seven points to take the set 25-16 and even the match at one apiece.

In the critical third set, Furman responded quickly with a 13-5 burst out of the chute to take early control. The Catamounts battled back to within three, 18-15 on the heels of a 10-5 spurt of their own. WCU flipped the scoreboard with a 9-4 burst to take a late 24-22 lead before claiming the set 25-23, taking a 2-1 edge in the match.

Furman again opened the set fast with a 9-4 run to jump on the Catamounts early for the second consecutive stanza. After a balanced offensive attack, the Catamounts used a 15-5 run to flip the lead at 19-14 late in the fourth set. A quick 9-4 run from the Paladins tied the set at 23 late. WCU capitalized on a late service error, before a Kranzler kill secured the fourth set and the SoCon win.  

Western Carolina (6-14, 2-5 SoCon) continues in league action on Friday, Oct. 16, heading to Chattanooga for back-to-back road tilts. The two-match series opens with a 6 p.m. first serve on Friday before a 3 p.m. start on Saturday afternoon from on-campus Maclellan Gym.

Both matchups with the Mocs will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), and live stats will be available via a link at 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 X (@catamounts, @catamountvb).
 
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