WCU Downs Volleyball in Home Opener

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Caitlin Piechota had 16 kills to lead Western Carolina to a 3-0 volleyball victory over homestanding UNC Asheville Tuesday night at Justice Center. The Catamounts won the match by the scores of 25-21, 25-15, 25-19.

WCU (5-5) won at the Justice Center for the first time since the 2002 season. The Lady Cats were in control for most of the match as they held off Asheville comebacks in the first and third sets to record the win. Elyssa Mulherson led the WCU effort on defense with 14 digs.

Asheville (2-9) was led by Christine Lakatos with eight kills and nine digs. Shelby Erickson added seven kills, seven digs and two service aces.

The first set saw Asheville sprint out to an early before WCU's attack took over. The Lady Cats got kills from Jordan Timmerman Piechota to build a 20-14 lead.

Asheville stormed back to close to 22-21 on a kill from Lakatos. But WCU picked up two kills from Piechota to take a 24-21 lead before a hitting error from Asheville ended the first set.

In the second set, the visitors were in control from start to finish. Asheville just couldn't get untracked on offense and WCU cruised to a 25-15 win.

In the third set, the Bulldogs led early only to see Piechota and Timmerman take over and push WCU to a 20-13 lead.

Asheville stormed back behind Lakatos. She had three kills as the home team closed to 21-19. But a hitting error by the Bulldogs gave WCU a 22-19 lead. The Cats finished the match off with three straight points and the victory.

UNC Asheville plays next in Jacksonville, Fla. this weekend when the Bulldogs compete in the Radisson Invitational. Asheville faces Jacksonville Friday at 10 a.m.