CULLOWHEE, N.C.– UNC Greensboro volleyball team (7-8, 1-2 Southern Conference) fell to Western Carolina University (7-8, 1-3 SoCon) 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-20) to end a five-match roadstand.

Sophomore outside hitter Maria Esch led the team with seven kills, while junior outside hitter Emily Keilen added six kills with a .600 hitting percentage.

Senior setter Allison Penner nearly recorded a double-double with 21 assists and eight digs, while senior libero Christina Gregory led the team with 11 digs.

UNCG scored the first three points in the first set to take a 3-0 lead, but Western Carolina scored eight of the next 10 points to take a three-point, 8-5.  The Spartans scored four of the next five points to tie the set at nine, but the Catamounts outscored UNCG 16-10 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 1-0 match lead.

Western Carolina scored 11 of the first 15 points to take a seven-point lead, 11-4, and scored eight of the next 12 points to increase the lead to 11 points, 18-9, but the Spartans scored the next three points to cut the lead to eight points, 19-11.  WCU outscored UNCG 6-5 during the rest of the set to win the set and to take a 2-0 match lead.

The Spartans scored five of the first eight points to take a two-point lead, 5-3, but Western Carolina scored the next four points to take a two-point lead, 7-5. WCU scored 16 of the next 27 points to increase its lead to seven points, 23-16, but UNCG scored the next four points to cut the lead to four points, 24-20. A service ace gave WCU the set win and the match win.

The Catamounts were led by Merry Gebel with a double-double of 10 kills and 10 digs, while Hannah Price led the team with 12 assists and Meagan Sanchez led the team with 14 digs.

The Spartans return home this weekend against Chattanooga Friday at 6 p.m. and Samford Saturday at 5 p.m. in Fleming Gymnasium to start a three-match homestand.

Short Box Score (Match)

UNCG vs Western Carolina (Sep 26, 2018 at Cullowhee,N.C.)

Western Carolina def. UNCG 25-19,25-16,25-20

  UNCG (7-8,1-2 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Maria Esch 7-0-1; Emily

  Keilen 6-0-1; Holly Behrends 4-0-0; Mikaela Weidmann 3-0-2; Anne

  Scholzel 3-0-3; Lauren Robeck 3-0-1; Grace Howell 1-0-0; Rebecca Rice

  1-0-0; Megan Moran 0-0-2; Totals 28-0-5.0. (Assists) - Allison Penner

21. (Dig leaders) - Christina Gregory 11; Allison Penner 8

  Western Carolina (7-8,1-3 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Merry Gebel

  10-1-0; MaKenzie White 6-0-2; Abigail Veit 5-1-0; Aleah Keaton 5-0-3;

  Hannah Price 5-1-2; Haley Multerer 2-0-2; Sydney Carlson 1-2-0; Meagan

  Sanchez 0-1-0; Totals 34-6-5.0. (Assists) - Sydney Carlson 13; Hannah

  Price 12. (Dig leaders) - Meagan Sanchez 14; Abigail Veit 11; Merry

  Gebel 10; Hannah Price 9

  Site: Cullowhee,N.C. (Ramsey Center)

  Date: Sep 26, 2018   Attend: 134   Time: 1:18    

  Referees: Courtney Goodwin, Dianne Penner

  Line judges: Michael Birch, Glenna Toney

-- UNCG –