BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Furman (21-8,13-3) swept Western Carolina (13-20,8-8) to advance to the semifinals tomorrow afternoon in the Pete Hanna Center at Samford University.
Furman won the opening set, 25-19. The Paladins led Western Carolina by as many as 10 points in the set. The Catamounts went on a 4-0 run to bring them within four, but two kills by Furman’s Natalie Braun closed out the set.
The Paladins took a 2-0 lead winning the second set, 25-18. The second set remained close with the score tied seven times. Furman went on a 4-0 run with Western Carolina only trailing by four. The Catamounts went on a 2-0 run before the teams began trading points back and forth. The Paladins were able to increase their lead by five before finishing the second set on a kill by Kelly Kirby.
Furman held the Catamounts to a .093 hitting percentage in the second set.
The third set opened with the two teams tied at two before the Paladins took off on a 7-0 run, leading Western Carolina 9-2. The Catamounts overcame from a four-point deficit to bring the set within one, but the Paladins were able to hold to make a clean sweep.
Western Carolina’s Morgan Cochran led the team in digs with 16. All-Freshmen team member, Caitlin Piechota had 15 digs while recording a team-high nine kills. Brittany Lysik dished out 29 assists.
Natalie Braun tallied a match-high 20 kills for the Paladins. Braun along with Chandler Ambrester and Kirby all recorded 13 digs. Carolyn Nicoletti led the team with 14. Kirby also tallied 29 assists in Furman’s sweep.
Last year, Furman lost to UNCG in the opening round. The Paladins will face the winner of the Samford and Davidson match at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow.
Samford 3, Davidson 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Samford (27-4,13-3) defeated Davidson (15-15,5-11), 3-1 in the final quarterfinal match of the day to advance to the semifinals.
In the opening set, Samford and Davidson battled back and forth keeping the match close, but Samford was able to take win the set, 25-22.
The set only saw three ties, with the Bulldogs never leading by more than three. Despite coming within one of Samford, the Wildcats never saw the lead.
Samford’s Katie Murphy led the attack in the first set with seven kills. Davidson’s Christine Perzinski and Caroline Brown each tallied four kills.
Davidson took a lead early in the second set and never relinquished it, tying the match at one apiece with a 25-22 win. The Wildcats led by five before Samford went on a 4-0 run which was ended by a Perzinski kill. A kill by Samford’s Chelsi Carter brought Samford within two, but it wasn’t enough as a kill from Davidson’s Madison Benedict ended the set.
The two teams battled back and forth early in the third set, with the Wildcats eventually taking a two-point lead, however their lead didn’t last long as Samford battled back to take the third set, 25-22.
With the score tied at 10, Samford and Davidson exchanged points before the Bulldogs went off on a 4-0 run. Davidson overcame the deficit and tied the set at 18. Two consecutive kills by Elizabeth Neisler gave the Bulldogs a two point lead, and a kill from Lauren Hutchinson extended it by three.
A Samford attack error and a kill by Davidson’s Tindall Sewell put the Wildcats within one, but the Bulldogs maintained their lead.
The fourth set remained close the whole time with neither team leading by more than two until Samford delivered six unanswered points.
Hutchinson led the Bulldogs with a match-high 18 kills. Teammates Katie Murphy and Neisler added 16 and 15, respectively. Alexis Bauer paced Samford’s defense with 20 digs. Michaela Reesor added 16. Casey Garvey dished out a match-high 58 assists.
Davidson had four players record kills in the double digits, led by Perzinski with 17. Perzinski and Caroline Brown both recorded double-doubles.
Samford will face Furman tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. in the semifinals of the 2011 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship.