Cullowhee, N.C. – Bailey Hartsough had a game-high 18 kills to lead the Western Carolina Catamounts to a 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-16) victory over the Furman Paladins in Southern Conference volleyball action, Saturday evening at the Ramsey Center.

Furman drops to 7-17 on the season and 2-12 in SoCon play, while Western Carolina improves to 11-14 overall and 7-7 in the conference.

Bella Tolone paced the Paladins offensively with 11 kills, and eight digs, on .280 hitting. Neci Harris contributed six kills and Chandler Parker five. Sarah Turner dished out 15 assists and Ella Abraham provided eight. Defensively, Andrea Aceveda had a team-high 17 digs.

Hartsough led all players with her 18 kills and .708 hitting percentage while contributing seven digs for the Catamounts. Merry Gebel posted 10 kills and seven digs. Sydney Carlson and Sarah Janourova combined for 37 assists. Destinee Dorsey had 10 digs.

Furman began the first set by scoring six of the opening seven points to go ahead 6-1. Tolone and Harris combined for four kills during the run. The Paladins took a five-point lead when Harris and Natalie Dunn combined for a block. Western Carolina came back with a 15-6 run to go in front 16-12 when Gebel connected on a kill. Furman stayed within one point throughout the middle stages and trailed 20-19 following a kill by Kelsey Watkins. The Catamounts closed out the set recording the final five points to win 25-19.

Western Carolina went on a 6-2 run to start the second set and later extended its lead to 15-3 after Hartsough collected a kill. The Catamounts held their largest lead of the set at 20-5 following a bad set by the Paladins. Hartsough's kill gave Western Carolina the 25-11 victory.

Abraham's service ace put Furman in front 4-3 to open the third set and Tolone followed the next play with a kill. The Paladins took a one-point lead two more times after that beginning at 6-5 on Tolone's kill. A Catamount service error put Furman back ahead 7-6. Western Carolina responded with a 10-3 run and took a 16-10 lead after a kill by Gebel. Watkins responded with back-to-back solo blocks to cut the Paladins' deficit to 16-12. The Catamounts concluded the set outscoring Furman 9-4 to win the set, 25-16, and capture the match, 3-0.

Harris combined for three blocks (one solo, two assisted) to lead the Paladins while Watkins contributed two solo blocks.

Furman wraps up its regular season next weekend, November 12-13, hosting Mercer and Samford at Alley Gymnasium.