CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina took the first two sets before UNCG battled back to take the next two sets, but the Spartans fell to the Catamounts in the fifth set to drop the match, 3-2 (29-27, 25-22, 18-25, 18-25, 15-11), on Saturday in the Ramsey Center.
The Spartans are now 14-4 on the year and 2-1 in the Southern Conference after snapping their six-game winning streak. The Catamounts improved to 6-12 this season and 1-2 in the SoCon.
"Western Carolina came out and played us hard," said coach Patrick Nicholas. "We tried to make a comeback, but Western hung in there and fought us hard. The team needs to learn that there are no easy matches in the conference. Hopefully we can grow from this and bounce back tomorrow."
Ariel Newman and Billi Baker led the Spartan attack as they each had a team-high 14 kills. Caley Redden also had double-digit kills with 11 for UNCG. Newman made it a double-double as she had a team-high 20 digs and Redden also had a double-double with 14 digs. Setter Ari Lysacek had a double-double as well with 43 assists and 15 digs.
Amanda Chaparro had a match-high 16 kills for Western Carolina and added 14 digs for a double-double. Morgan Cochran had a match-high 25 digs and Kelcie Randazzo had 11 kills and 20 digs for a double-double for the home side.
In the first set, the two teams traded points for most of the set. The Spartans fell behind 23-21 late in the set, but they fought back to have set point at 25-24. UCNG had set point again at 26-25, but the Catamounts rallied to win the set, 29-27 on a kill by Rebecca Stoltz.
The Spartans took control in the second set by taking a 12-9 lead midway through the set before Western Carolina took the next five points to go ahead, 14-12. UNCG came back to pull within 23-22, but he Catamounts called a timeout and won the final two points to win the set, 25-22, and take a 2-0 lead going into the break.
UNCG came firing out of intermission by jumping out to an 8-2 lead. The Spartans would go on to extend their lead to 20-13 on a Catamount error before taking the set, 25-18.
In the fourth set, the two teams seemed evenly matched at they were tied at 13 after a kill by Redden. UNCG though went on two win the next five points to take control of the set by winning, 25-18, and tying the match at two.
In the final set, the Spartans once again had the lead as they went up 11-10 on another kill by Redden. The Catamounts though responded by winning the final five points to take the fifth set, 15-11, to win the match.
The Spartans will continue their weekend road trip on Sunday as they play Appalachian State at 5 p.m.
AGATE
Western Carolina def. UNCG 29-27, 25-22, 18-25, 18-25, 15-11
UNCG (14-4, 2-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Billi Baker 14-0-5; Ariel Newman 14-0-2; Caley Redden 11-0-2; Kayren Finney 8-0-6; Olivia Humphries 8-0-4; Ari Lysacek 3-2-1; Kimiko Naito 2-0-0; Alissa Beaudway 2-0-0; Totals 62-2-10.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 43. (Dig leaders) - Ariel Newman 20; Kellie Orewiler 17; Ari Lysacek 15; Caley Redden 14
Western Carolina (6-12, 1-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Amanda Chaparro 16-1-3; Paloma Alvarez 14-1-2; Kelcie Randazzo 11-0-0; Rebecca Stoltz 11-0-6; Carrie Minogue 8-2-0; Abbey Scroggins 1-0-0; Emily Franklin 1-1-1; Leah Best 1-0-1; Morgan Cochran 0-1-0; Totals 63-6-7.0. (Assists) - Emily Franklin 47. (Dig leaders) - Morgan Cochran 25; Kelcie Randazzo 20; Amanda Chaparro 14; Emily Franklin 9
Site: Cullowhee, N.C. (Ramsey Center)
Date: Oct. 2 Attend: 87 Time: 2:11
Referees: Richard Holstead, Courtney Stuman
- UNCG -
