Greenville, S.C. – Nicole Mack recorded her third double-double of the season on Saturday evening, and led three players in double-figure kills, as the Furman volleyball team fell 3-2 (25-19, 16-25, 16-25, 28-26, 12-15) to the Western Carolina Catamounts in SoCon play at Alley Gymnasium.
Furman falls to 0-13 on the season and 0-2 in conference play while Western Carolina improves to 8-7 overall and 2-0 in the league.
The Paladins began the match by going on an 8-2 run in the first set and led by six following a combination block from
Courtney Hoffman and
Gabby Howard. The Catamounts got as close as four, 12-8, a few plays later when Merry Gebel connected on a kill. Furman answered with a 9-4 run and extended its lead out to nine points, 21-12, when Howard registered a kill. Western Carolina attempted a late rally and got to within five, 23-18, on Aleah Keaton's kill. Mack and
Neci Harris recorded the Paladins' final two points, both on kills, to give them the 25-19 victory.
Furman captured three of the first four points in the second set and took a 3-1 lead after a Catamount attack error. Western Carolina responded with a 12-3 run and held a 13-6 advantage when Hannah Price recorded a kill. The Paladins got as close as four points, 14-10, after Hoffman posted a kill. The Catamounts led by as many as seven points after that when MaKenzie White and Abigail Veit combined for a block. Harris and
Natalie Dunn later teamed up for a block and cut Furman's deficit down to 20-16. Western Carolina closed out the set scoring the last five points to win 25-16.
The teams exchanged the first 18 points of the third set as Howard evened the score at 9-9 with her kill. The Catamounts would then go on an 11-4 run and push their lead out to 20-13 after a kill from Gebel. Gebel later recorded back-to-back kills to give Western Carolina the 25-16 win.
The fourth set featured 17 ties and 12 lead changes as the opening 20 points saw the score even a total of nine times. A Catamount attack error would give the Paladins an early 10-9 lead. After Western Carolina went in front 13-10, Furman came back with a 7-1 run and took a 17-14 lead following two straight Catamount attack errors.
Lydia Morris kept the Paladins ahead by two, 18-16, a couple of plays later after recording a kill. Western Carolina then tied the set at 20-20 as the score would be tied six times after that with the last coming at 26-26. Furman got a Catamount service error and kill by Harris to capture the set, 28-26.
The Paladins took seven of the first 11 points in the fifth set as Harris gave them a 7-4 lead with her kill, forcing Western Carolina into a timeout. Hoffman later put Furman ahead by three, 12-9, with her kill. Western Carolina scored six consecutive points to close out the set, 15-12, and win the match, 3-2.
The Paladins had three players finish with double-digit kills led by Hoffman and Harris, who both finished with a career-high 17. Hoffman also posted a match-high .424 hitting percentage. Mack compiled her third double-double this season after compiling 16 kills and 14 digs. Dunn,
Sarah Turner and
Andrea Aceveda all set new career-highs in digs as Aceveda led the way with 29. Dunn and Turner both had 13.
Katie Murphy dished out 51 assists.
Gebel, Veit and Price each collected double-doubles for the Catamounts. Gebel finished with 24 kills and 14 digs while Veit added 24 kills and 13 digs. Price had 51 assists and 14 digs. Meagan Sanchez led all players with a match-high 30 digs.
Furman continues its five-match homestand next weekend, October 4-5, when it hosts Wofford and The Citadel.
