Cullowhee, N.C. – Nicole Mack recorded her team-leading ninth double-double of the season on Saturday afternoon as the Furman volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (20-25, 23-25, 19-25) decision in conference play to the Western Carolina Catamounts at the Ramsey Center.
Furman falls to 5-16 on the season and 5-5 in SoCon play while Western Carolina improves to 14-9 overall and 8-2 in the conference.
The Catamounts began the match by going on a 6-2 run in the first set and took a four-point lead on Hannah Price's kill. The Paladins responded by recording the next four points to tie the score at 6-6 capped by a service ace from Mack.
Katie Murphy later gave Furman a 10-8 advantage with her kill. Following a Paladin timeout,
Courtney Hoffman collected back-to-back kills to cut their deficit down to 16-14. Western Carolina broke the set open courtesy of a 6-1 run and held a 22-15 lead on a kill from Merry Gebel. Furman got as close as four points several plays later when Mack's kill put the score at 24-20. The Catamounts won the set on the following play when Aleah Keaton connected on a kill.
The second set featured a total of 12 ties as the teams traded the first 20 points before
Neci Harris gave the Paladins an 11-10 lead with her kill. Furman would go on a 4-2 run after that and went in front 15-12 following Mack's service ace. Harris maintained the Paladins' lead at one point, 19-18, after registering a kill. Western Carolina answered by going on a 5-2 run and led 24-20 on a Furman attack error. Following a Paladin timeout, Mack recorded three straight kills and trimmed their deficit down to 24-23. Abigail Veit secured the 25-23 set victory for the Catamounts with a kill.
Western Carolina scored five of the first seven points in the third set before
Lydia Morris evened things for Furman as her kill put the score at 5-5. Mack kept the Paladins within one when her kill cut the deficit down to 11-10. The Catamounts then used a 9-3 run to take their largest lead of the set at 20-13 on a kill by Gebel. Gebel would make the score 21-14 two plays later with another kill. Furman attempted a late rally and got as close as four points, 21-17, after Mack recorded three consecutive kills. Western Carolina outscored the Paladins 4-2 after that to win the set 25-19 and capture the 3-0 match victory.
Mack led the Paladins offensively with her team-leading ninth double-double of the season after finishing with 20 kills and 15 digs. Hoffman added eight kills.
Andrea Aceveda finished with a match-high 19 digs while
Sarah Turner added 13 and
Natalie Dunn 11. Murphy compiled 35 assists and eight digs.
Gebel and Veit had a team-high 14 kills apiece for the Catamounts while Veit contributed a double-double after recording 12 digs. Hannah Price also had a double-double on 33 assists and 12 digs. Meagan Sanchez posted a team-best 18 digs.
Furman remains on the road next weekend, November 1-2, traveling to The Citadel and Wofford for a pair of conference matches.
