Chattanooga, Tenn. – After claiming Friday evening's opening set, Western Carolina couldn't maintain the momentum as home-standing Chattanooga rallied to win the final three frames and hand the Catamounts a 3-1 Southern Conference road setback at Maclellan Gym. The Mocs earned the league decision, 21-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14.
Senior Katie Boney recorded her team-leading ninth double-double of the season with 32 assists and 16 digs while adding five kills. Classmate Zoe Zudans paced the offense with 10 kills, while Ashlyn Cobb and Tatum Sharp both finished with seven kills and Samantha Kranzler picked up six kills and six digs.
Elise Gurley registered her sixth 20-dig performance of the season with a team-high 20 digs, while Boney added 16 and Halley Tang chipped in 10. On the block, freshman JoJo Abeyta matched a season-high with five rejections, giving her 20 blocks in just 21 sets this season.
UTC's Gracie Rose led all players on Friday with 11 kills, adding five digs and a match-best five service aces. Elena Vukmanov had a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Kynli Kirkendoll and Sophia Garrido each grabbed nine kills, with Jordin Glass tallying eight.
Ashley Reynolds led the Mocs with 32 assists and 13 digs, plus three aces and a pair of blocks. Defensively, Caiti Barthel led with 21 digs, followed by 13 from Reynolds and 12 from Vukmanov. Garrido totaled a match-best seven blocks, while Glass added six and Kirkendoll picked up five.
The Catamounts appeared poised to seize early control after taking the opening set, but Chattanooga responded by closing the second set on a 13-5 run before carrying that momentum through the final two frames.
Nine early ties in the first 20 points kept the opening set tight before a quick 3-point spurt gave WCU the 13-10 lead. Chattanooga answered with four of the next five points to even the score at 14 before the guests matched it with four unanswered. UTC used a 6-3 run to cut the deficit to one, 21-20, before the Catamounts closed scoring four of the final five points to win 25-21.
Chattanooga led 11-9 early in the second set before WCU jumped back in front with five of the next six points to take a 14-12 lead. However, the Mocs got on the board, closing on a 13-5 run to flip the scoreboard and even the match at a set apiece.
Riding momentum from the end of set two, Chattanooga earned an early 7-4 lead in the third set. The two squads went back and forth before UTC took a 12-11 lead. The Mocs finished the set on a 13-4 run to win 25-15.
The Mocs ultimately created the separation they needed on Friday with a 10-3 burst to stretch an early one-point lead to eight, 16-8, in the fourth. WCU closed to within eight on a pair of occasions, but UTC wouldn't let it get any closer, scoring five of the final seven points to finish off the four-set victory.
Western Carolina (6-15, 2-6 SoCon) returns to the court on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. for a rematch against Chattanooga. The match will stream on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live stats available at CatamountSports.com.
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