Greenville, S.C. – The Furman volleyball team dropped its series finale against the Western Carolina Catamounts 3-0 (14-25, 18-25, 22-25) in SoCon action Monday evening from Alley Gymnasium.
Furman falls to 4-6 overall and 4-6 in the SoCon, while Western Carolina improves to 6-7 on the season and 6-5 in conference play.
Neci Harris led the Paladins offensively with a game-high 12 kills while
Sydney Tanner contributed eight.
Katie Murphy dished out 29 assists and collected eight digs.
Andrea Aceveda finished with a team-high 20 digs and
Mikaela Schultz provided 10.
Merry Gebel posted a team-leading 11 kills for the Catamounts and Johnna Robinson led all players with nine total blocks (one solo, eight assisted). Hannah Price totaled 30 assists, and Destinee Dorsey and Julia Gardon registered 22 and 15 digs.
Western Carolina opened the match on an 8-4 run in the first set and took a four-point lead when Haley Multerer connected on a kill. Furman responded by scoring six of the next eight points and tied the score at 10-10 following a kill by
Maya Mrus. The Catamounts closed out the set on a 15-3 run, capped by a Paladin service error, to win 25-13.
Harris gave Furman an early 7-3 lead in the second set after recording a kill. She later put the Paladins ahead 8-6 with her kill. Western Carolina rallied to go in front 14-12, off an 11-5 run, and led by two when MaKenzie White posted a kill. Furman then scored four straight points to lead 16-14 after a Catamount attack error. The Paladins would be held to just two points the rest of the way as Western Carolina went on an 11-2 run for the 25-18 victory.
The Catamounts began the third set on a 10-3 run and led by seven when White recorded a kill. Furman fought back to within two points three times within a span of five plays. Harris trimmed the Paladins' deficit down to 14-12 midway with her kill. Western Carolina broke the set open courtesy of a 10-4 run and sat at set point, 24-16, after a Furman attack error. The Paladins made a late rally with six straight points, and trailed 24-22 following kills by Harris and
Natalie Dunn. Price won the set, and match, for the Catamounts on the following play.
Furman held a 35-34 advantage in assists and led 57-53 in digs.
The Paladins begin a four-match road trip next week, March 14-15, with a series at Samford. Match times are scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 14 and 7 p.m. on Monday, March 15.
