Volleyball Drops Front End of Home-and-Home vs Upstate

Press Release

Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina dropped the opening match of its nonconference home-and-home series with USC Upstate, falling in four sets Thursday night on Ingles Court in the Ramsey Center. The Spartans claimed the match 25-18, 25-23, 21-25, 27-25.

The teams meet again on Friday in Spartanburg at 6 p.m. in WCU's final nonconference match before Southern Conference play.

Senior Zoe Zudans led the WCU offense Thursday with a season-best 17 kills while adding three blocks and three digs. Sophomore transfer Brookelynn Nance matched her collegiate-best with 10 kills in her most extensive action of the season, adding a career-best four digs and three blocks. Tatum Sharp and Sophia Marini chipped in eight kills apiece, with Sharp also had two service aces.

Senior setter Katie Boney posted a standout all-around performance with 38 assists, a career-high 30 digs, five service aces, and three kills. Her 30 digs were the most by a Catamount since Destinee Dorsey tallied 33 against Southern Miss on Dec. 7, 2022.

Defensively, sophomore Elise Gurley and junior Halley Tang both logged 14 digs, and Gurley added a career-best eight assists.  Zudans and Nance led the WCU block with three blocks apiece, followed by Sharp with two stops.

USC Upstate was led by Summer Kohler, who totaled a match-high 18 kills, adding 17 digs in the double-double effort. She also finished with five assists and four blocks. Savannah Page posted 14 kills, followed by Kensley Haneline with seven kills and four rejections.

Kamyla Vega David led the Spartans with a double-double, recording 26 assists and 24 digs, while Sarah O'Connor added 10 helpers and 12 digs. Bri Brathol finished with 23 digs, and Sophia Overholt added 18 digs and three service aces. Tien Murray paced Upstate with a match-high nine blocks, as Kohler, Haneline, and Sophia Spivey added four stops apiece.

USC Upstate broke open a tight first set with an 11-4 run to push the early advantage to six, 15-9 at the midpoint. Led by three kills from Zudans, the Catamounts scored seven of the next nine points to cut the deficit to one, 17-16, but couldn't get any closer as an 8-2 finish from Upstate led to the 25-18 win.

Using a 6-2 start, WCU claimed an early five-point lead in the second set before Upstate answered with another 11-4 run to flip the scoreboard, 18-16. The two sides went back-and-forth, resulting in a 23-22 Upstate lead late. However, a block and kill from the Spartans gave the guests a 25-23 set two win.

After dropping the opening two sets, Western Carolina battled back in the third. The Catamounts erased an 18-16 deficit with a 9-3 run, including the last four points, winning the frame 25-21 to extend the match.

The fourth set featured 11 ties before WCU used a 5-1 run to take a 20-16 lead. Upstate answered with six consecutive points to move in front 22-20. The Catamounts rallied to regain the lead late, but the Spartans closed the match with a 5-1 stretch to secure the 27-25 victory.

Western Carolina (4-8) concludes nonconference play on Friday (Sept. 18) with the back end of the home-and-home against USC Upstate. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), as live stats will be provided via a link at CatamountSports.com.