Clemson, S.C. – Senior setter Katie Boney and freshman outside hitter Ashlyn Cobb both recorded double-doubles as Western Carolina rallied from a two-set deficit before falling to Butler in five on Friday afternoon at Jervey Gymnasium in their first game in the Big Orange Bash. The Bulldogs claimed the season opener by scores of 25-22, 25-21, 19-25, 24-26, 15-13.
Cobb turned in an impressive collegiate debut, leading the Catamounts with 13 kills while adding 13 digs for her first career double-double. The Delray Beach, Fla., native also contributed two blocks and an ace. Cobb became the first Catamount to record a double-double in her debut match since Sarah Janourova posted 18 assists and 16 digs in her first appearance on Aug. 28, 2021.
Senior Zoe Zudans added 12 kills, four digs and three blocks, while sophomore Samantha Kranzler contributed nine kills and eight digs with two blocks.
Boney registered her 19th career double-double with 39 assists and 12 digs. The senior also chipped in four blocks, two aces and three kills. Her 39 assists moved her into 14th place on Western Carolina's career assists list with 1,930, surpassing Sydney Carlson (1,919).
Defensively, sophomore Elise Gurley posted a career-high 17 digs to lead the Catamounts while also adding a personal-best six assists.
Western Carolina showed strength at the net throughout the match, finishing with a strong blocking effort led by freshman Aiyana Harris, who recorded six blocks in her collegiate debut. Boney added four blocks, while Zudans and sophomore Tatum Sharp each had three. Sharp and Harris both finished with six kills.
Cobb, Harris and sophomore Danielle Wheat all made their collegiate debuts for the Catamounts, while sophomore transfer Brookelynn Nance made her Western Carolina debut after spending her freshman season at Gardner-Webb.
Butler was led by Raegan Durbin, who posted a match-high 16 kills and 11 digs for the Bulldogs' lone double-double. Sawyer Jones added 10 kills and a match-best nine blocks, while Elise Ward and Zoe McDonald each recorded nine kills. Ava Hunter dished out 23 assists, Sarah Kempf added 19, and Ward led all players with 21 digs.
The opening set featured six ties and numerous lead changes before Butler used an 8-2 run to build a 23-18 advantage. Western Carolina answered with four of the next five points, highlighted by a Zudans kill and block and a solo block from Kranzler, but the Bulldogs held on for the 25-22 victory.
Butler gained control midway through the second set, turning an early advantage into an 11-7 lead. The Catamounts responded to pull within one at 14-13 and later tied the set at 17-17, but the Bulldogs closed on an 8-4 run to take a 2-0 match lead with a 25-21 set win.
Facing elimination, Western Carolina responded in the third set. After building an early lead, the Catamounts used a 4-1 surge to create separation and later closed with an 8-4 run to secure a 25-19 victory and extend the match.
The fourth set followed a similar pattern. Butler used a 10-4 run to move ahead early, but WCU answered with an 8-4 stretch to reclaim the lead. The Catamounts eventually built a 20-17 advantage before the Bulldogs rallied to reach match point. Western Carolina responded by scoring the final five points of the set, including a successful challenge that kept the match alive, forcing a decisive fifth set with a 26-24 win.
In the finale, the Catamounts jumped out early before Butler erased the deficit and tied the score at 7-7. The Bulldogs later used a 5-2 run to take a 12-9 lead and held on despite Western Carolina fighting off two match points. Butler ultimately secured the 15-13 set victory and the match.
Western Carolina continues its opening weekend Saturday with a 1 p.m. matchup against Charleston Southern. Live statistics will be available through CatamountSports.com.
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