University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Tuesday, September 12
Cullowhee, NC
6:00 PM
UNC Asheville
0
at
3
Western Carolina
Bulldogs Fall to Mountain Rival in Cullowhee
09.12.2017 | Women's Volleyball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Three Bulldogs finished with eight kills each, but it would be Western Carolina that would take a 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-20) win over UNC Asheville at the Ramsey Center.
Western Carolina (3-7) opened with the nine-point win in set No. 1, but in the second set it looked as if UNC Asheville (2-6) would even things overall in the match with the Bulldogs leading 21-19 after an Ansley Rooks kill. The Catamounts would score six of the next seven points though to claim the set at 25-22.
In the third set, UNC Asheville looked as if they might be able to force a fourth set as they were down just two at 19-17 late in the game, but once again Western Carolina closed late in a set to pick up the match victory.
UNC Asheville junior outside hitter Ansley Rooks just missed on a double-double in the match as she had a team-best 13 digs to go along with eight kills. Sophomore right side Rooks had six digs to go along with her eight kills, while freshman middle blocker Ava Venema was the final Bulldog with eight kills in the match.
Freshman outside hitter KK Haley and sophomore defensive specialist Sheridan Salisbury both recorded double-digit digs in the match with 10 each.
Gabby Gray led Western Carolina in its win with a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs.
The sophomore setting tandem of Kailey Hackett (15) and Carter Kennedy (12) led the Bulldogs in assists in the match. Kennedy also had eight digs.
BULLDOG BITES
Mountain Rivalry
Last season at the Justice Center on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, UNC Asheville picked up an emphatic 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) win over the Catamounts. Since making the move to NCAA Division I, UNC Asheville now owns a 23-17 advantage over the Catamounts after their loss on Tuesday evening.
Setting the Pace
After her total in the Western Carolina match, Hackett is now over 100 assists for the year at 107. Kennedy is not far behind with 97 on the year.
Quotable
"The team had a slow start and could not gain any rhythm or momentum in the match. We learned a big lesson today about being focused from the start. However, our team is a team that is also learning to play together and this takes work and time to achieve. There is a process to getting there and we will get there." - Head Coach Frederico Santos
National Notoriety
The UNC Asheville volleyball team was featured last week on the #espnWtop10. The Bulldogs were featured for a tremendous play during their match against No. 15 Florida State in the Home2 Suites by Hilton Tallahassee Seminole Invitational when sophomore right side Ansley Rooks made an acrobatic kick save to keep the rally alive for the eventual Asheville point. The specialty play that earned her a top-10 spot is definitely not all that Rooks did though in the tournament as she was also named to the Home2 Suites by Hilton Tallahassee Seminole Invitational All-Tournament Team. To see the play, please click HERE.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next play three teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at the Maryland Eastern Shore The Henson's Hawk Invite. The Bulldogs open the tourney on Friday, Sept. 15, with a match against Delaware State. The following day, on Saturday, Sept. 16, the Bulldogs will play the host Hawks of UMES before closing out their time in Princess Anne, Md., with a match against Coppin State.
Western Carolina (3-7) opened with the nine-point win in set No. 1, but in the second set it looked as if UNC Asheville (2-6) would even things overall in the match with the Bulldogs leading 21-19 after an Ansley Rooks kill. The Catamounts would score six of the next seven points though to claim the set at 25-22.
In the third set, UNC Asheville looked as if they might be able to force a fourth set as they were down just two at 19-17 late in the game, but once again Western Carolina closed late in a set to pick up the match victory.
UNC Asheville junior outside hitter Ansley Rooks just missed on a double-double in the match as she had a team-best 13 digs to go along with eight kills. Sophomore right side Rooks had six digs to go along with her eight kills, while freshman middle blocker Ava Venema was the final Bulldog with eight kills in the match.
Freshman outside hitter KK Haley and sophomore defensive specialist Sheridan Salisbury both recorded double-digit digs in the match with 10 each.
Gabby Gray led Western Carolina in its win with a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs.
The sophomore setting tandem of Kailey Hackett (15) and Carter Kennedy (12) led the Bulldogs in assists in the match. Kennedy also had eight digs.
BULLDOG BITES
Mountain Rivalry
Last season at the Justice Center on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, UNC Asheville picked up an emphatic 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) win over the Catamounts. Since making the move to NCAA Division I, UNC Asheville now owns a 23-17 advantage over the Catamounts after their loss on Tuesday evening.
Setting the Pace
After her total in the Western Carolina match, Hackett is now over 100 assists for the year at 107. Kennedy is not far behind with 97 on the year.
Quotable
"The team had a slow start and could not gain any rhythm or momentum in the match. We learned a big lesson today about being focused from the start. However, our team is a team that is also learning to play together and this takes work and time to achieve. There is a process to getting there and we will get there." - Head Coach Frederico Santos
National Notoriety
The UNC Asheville volleyball team was featured last week on the #espnWtop10. The Bulldogs were featured for a tremendous play during their match against No. 15 Florida State in the Home2 Suites by Hilton Tallahassee Seminole Invitational when sophomore right side Ansley Rooks made an acrobatic kick save to keep the rally alive for the eventual Asheville point. The specialty play that earned her a top-10 spot is definitely not all that Rooks did though in the tournament as she was also named to the Home2 Suites by Hilton Tallahassee Seminole Invitational All-Tournament Team. To see the play, please click HERE.
Up Next
UNC Asheville will next play three teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at the Maryland Eastern Shore The Henson's Hawk Invite. The Bulldogs open the tourney on Friday, Sept. 15, with a match against Delaware State. The following day, on Saturday, Sept. 16, the Bulldogs will play the host Hawks of UMES before closing out their time in Princess Anne, Md., with a match against Coppin State.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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