CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Western Carolina volleyball team battled mountain-rival Appalachian to five sets (12-25, 25-16, 15-25, 27-25, 15-7), but lost a nail-bitter 3-2 on Wednesday night at the Ramsey Center.

Freshman Leah Best recorded a career-high 11 kills in the loss while classmate Kelcie Randazzo posted her team-leading sixth double-double of the year with 12 kills and 11 digs.

Junior Carrie Minogue recorded seven kills and posted a team-high four blocks (one block solo, three block assists). Sophomore Amanda Chaparro added 10 kills and a match-high three service aces. Emily Franklin had over 40 assists for the second time this season, recording 40 assists on the night to go along with 10 digs for her first double-double of the season. Freshman Morgan Cochran posted a team-high 21 digs.

Set one saw the Catamounts (5-12, 0-2 SoCon) trail early, 11-5, before going point-for-point with the Mountaineers (11-4, 2-0 SoCon) over the next six-points to make the score 14-8 in favor of Appalachian State. A 3-0 run by the Mountaineers made the score 17-8, but a Best kill and a service error by Lauren Swecker got WCU within eight (18-10). The Catamounts could not hold off the Appalachian State attack as they used 7-2 run to win the set, 25-12.

WCU responded in set two by taking an early 13-6 lead to start set two before Appalachian State responded with a 4-1 run to get the match within four (14-10). The Catamounts mounted a 4-1 run to take an 18-11 advantage and force the Mountaineers to burn a timeout. It was all WCU coming out of the timeout as they took advantage of four Appalachian State miscues coupled with a Chaparro kill and service ace and a Randazzo kill to win the set handily, 25-16.

The Catamounts used a balanced offensive attack in set two as three players had three or more kills in the set. Chaparro led the group with four while Randazzo and Abbey Scroggins both added three kills each. The Mountaineers returned the favor by jumping out to and early 11-point lead (17-6) to open set three. The Catamounts battled back, out-scoring the Mountaineers 9-8 in the final 17 points of the set, but the early deficit proved to be costly as they fell 25-15.

The Catamounts opened set four with a 10-8 lead over their rival. Four consecutive points by the Mountaineers made the score 12-10 and forced WCU to use a timeout. The Catamounts responded by going on a 7-4 run to take their largest lead of the set (20-16) and force Appalachian State to use a timeout to regroup. WCU again led by four (22-18) again as the two squads exchanged points before the Mountaineers took advantage of four WCU miscues and two kills by Kelly Rhein to take a 23-22 lead. The Catamounts used a 3-1 run to get to set point (25-24), but an attacking error by Minogue tied the set at 25. A kill by Chaparro made the score 26-25 before Minogue made up for her mistake by picking up a service ace, giving WCU the set (27-25) and take the match into a fifth set.

Best led the Catamounts in set four, recording a .714 attacking percentage with six kills. Franklin dished out 11 assists in the set. Set five saw WCU and Appalachian State tied at four before the Mountaineers went on an 11-3 run to win the match and improve to 2-0 in Southern Conference action. Appalachian State only committed two errors in the set to WCU's six.

Both teams struggled in their offensive attack as Appalachian State posted a .182 attacking percentage to WCU's .081 clip. The Catamounts recorded two more service aces (5-3) than the Mountaineers. Appalachian State's Kelly Rhein posted a match-high 17 kills.

The Catamounts return to action with two home contests against UNC Greensboro (Oct. 2) and Elon (Oct. 3). Both matches are slated to begin at 3 p.m.  The Black and Gold return to the Boone to host its annual Dig Pink Weekend. First up for ASU is SoCon North Division rival Elon. The two teams square off Saturday, October 2 at 4 p.m. in the Holmes Center.

Elon 3, North Carolina A&T 0

ELON, N.C. - The Elon volleyball team recorded its third straight victory and second straight sweep after defeating North Carolina A&T, 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-13), in non-conference action from Jordan Gym Wednesday night. With the victory, Elon moves to 10-8 on the season, while N.C. A&T falls to 2-14.

Senior Lauren Copenhagen led the team with nine kills on 18 attempts and recorded no errors on her way to a .500 attack percentage. Junior Caroline Lemke, sophomore Alison Johnson and freshman Cali Estes each earned six kills.

Junior Nickie Halbert and Estes shared the setting responsibilities recording 12 and 15 assists, respectively. Sophomore Ali Deatsch led the Phoenix on the defensive side of the ball with 10 digs.

"We really focused on our side tonight by playing consistently and executing," said Elon volleyball head coach Mary Tendler. "We played a 6-2 offense, which is something different then what we have been doing. I thought that it worked well and both Nickie and Cali did a good job setting."

In the first set, the Phoenix got off to a strong start after two service aces from senior Sarah Schermerhorn led to a 6-1 lead. After a kill from Copenhagen made the score 13-3, the Aggies were forced to call a timeout. Elon continued to lead the game and won on a service ace from Estes, 25-10.

Elon found itself tied three times with N.C. A&T by the time the score reached 6-6 in the second set. However, an attack error by the Aggies' Andrea Evans started a 10-point Phoenix run that saw four kills and four service aces and made the score 16-6. N.C. A&T would rally to keep Elon from its match point three times before a kill from sophomore Carly Ledbetter won the set 25-17.

In the final set, the score was tied early at four-all before a six-point run moved the Phoenix ahead 10-4. Elon never lost the momentum from there and won, 25-13, on a kill from Copenhagen to complete the sweep.

Elon will return to Southern Conference play this weekend as the Phoenix travels to Appalachian State on Saturday, Oct. 2, and to Western Carolina on Sunday, Oct. 3.