CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Samantha Kranzler hit .423 with 13 kills and 13 digs to guide Western Carolina past Furman, 3-1 (25-23, 16-26, 25-23, 25-23) Saturday at the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C.

After dropping a close first set which featured five ties, Furman battled back to force a 10-10 tie in the second set.  The Paladins then reeled off nine-straight points to take an 18-10 advantage and maintained control to win the second set, 25-16.  After the break, Furman built a 9-2 lead in set three, but the Catamounts chipped away at the margin and eventually tied the match at 19-all.  The Paladins again took the lead, 22-19, before Western Carolina scored five-consecutive points and hung on for the 25-23 victory in set three and claimed the fourth set by the same score.

The Paladins outhit the Catamounts .280 to .169 and held a 14-5 advantage in blocks while also leading Western Carolina in service aces, 7-6.  

Lauren Haynes posted a double-double with 12 kills and 14 digs to lead Furman.  Three other Paladins registered double digits in kills, including Izzy Castelloe with 11 and both Amber Watson and Tennyson Gorman with ten.  Ashtan Dotson paced Furman with 16 digs, while Kennedy Seekford added 11 digs.  Morgan Baldridge recorded 26 assists, and Emily Navarro logged 17 assists. 

Ashlyn Cobb notched a double-double with 11 kills and 12 for Western Carolina (6-14, 2-5 SoCon), while Katie Boney added 37 assists for the Catamounts.

Furman (9-9, 3-4 SoCon) returns home to square off against Mercer on Friday and Saturday at Timmons Arena as part of the team's alumni weekend.

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