GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG held the early lead in the first two sets, but Western Carolina rallied to win both en route to defeating the Spartans, 3-0, on Saturday evening in Fleming Gymnasium. The loss snapped UNCG's five-match winning streak.
UNCG fell to an even 9-9 with the loss and 2-1 in the Southern Conference, while the Catamounts improved to 7-12 and 2-2 in the league.
Ariel Newman led the Spartans offensively with eight kills and Karrian Chambers added seven kills of her own. Ari Lysacek nearly had a double-double as she posted 27 assists and nine digs.
The Catamounts were led by Caitlin Piechota who had a match-high nine kills without a single error for a .281 hitting percentage. Brittany Lysik had 24 assists for Western Carolina and Jordan Timmermann added a match-high 15 digs.
UNCG opened the match on a good note as an ace from Newman gave the Spartans an early 8-4 lead. Western Carolina then got its offense clicking to tie the set at 13 before opening up an 18-14 lead. The Spartans cut the deficit down to 18-17 to force a Catamount timeout, but Western Carolina went on a 7-1 run out of the timeout to win the set, 25-18.
The second set started very similar as UNCG took the early 8-3 lead and the Catamounts responded by tying the set at 9-all. Later in the set, the Spartans held a narrow 15-13 lead, but Western Carolina took control and ended the set on a 12-2 run to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.
After falling behind early in the third set, UNCG used a 6-1 run to take an 11-9 lead. The Spartans would stretch their lead out to 17-13 later in the set, but Western Carolina fought back to tie the set at 19. The two sides were still tied at 22 before the Catamounts won the final three points to win the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.
The Spartans will return to action on Sunday as they host Appalachian State at 5 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium.
AGATE
Western Carolina def. UNCG 25-18, 25-17, 25-22
Western Carolina (7-12, 2-2 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Caitlin Piechota 9-0-0; Jordan Timmermann 7-1-2; Rebecca Stoltz 6-0-2; Carrie Minogue 5-0-4; Abbey Scroggins 2-3-1; Brittany Lysik 1-1-2; Totals 30-5-6.0. (Assists) - Brittany Lysik 24. (Dig leaders) - Jordan Timmermann 15; Morgan Cochran 14
UNCG (9-9, 2-1 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ariel Newman 8-1-0; Karrian Chambers 7-0-1; Kelsey Sidney 5-0-1; Ari Lysacek 5-1-0; Chelsea Evans 5-0-0; Holland Hoefnagel 4-0-1; Morgan Freeman 3-3-1; Sarah Eldridge 0-1-0; Kellie Orewiler 0-1-0; Totals 37-7-2.0. (Assists) - Ari Lysacek 27. (Dig leaders) - Kellie Orewiler 12; Ari Lysacek 9; Karrian Chambers 8; Ariel Newman 8
Site: Greensboro, N.C. (Fleming Gymnasium)
Date: Oct 01, 2011 Attend: 131 Time: 1:18
Referees: Ronnie Mutter, Wade Brence
- UNCG -
