CULLOWHEE, N.C.- Despite dropping the first set of the contest by two points, Appalachian State University picked up its pace and rallied for a 3-1 defeat of SoCon North Division rival Western Carolina Wednesday evening at the Ramsey Center. With the win, ASU improves to 11-15 on the season and 7-5 in league play while WCU drops to 3-23 overall and remains winless in SoCon action, falling to 0-12.

ASU struggled in the first set as Western Carolina knotched the early 5-2 lead. The Apps continued to trail the Catamounts, as the Mountaineers found themselves in 14-8 hole, with Rebecca Stoltz and Kara Lynzee Brooks pacing the WCU attack.

Sophomore Maggie Seeds helped the Apps get back into the match, pulling within two points at the 16-14 mark, but ASU was unable to get over the hump.

Despite the match being tied at both the 20 all and 23 all mark, with Kelsey Kuehner and Lauren Swecker leading the attack, WCU was able to eek out the narrow two point victory, winning 25-23.

In a tale of two sets, it was all Appalachian in second set play, jumping out to a commanding 20-9 advantage. Back to back kills by Kasey Sauls and kills by Caroline Sedon and Kuehner gave ASU the 11 point lead.

Two final points by Seeds and Swecker led the Black and Gold to the impressive 25-14 second set win to tie the match at one apiece.

Appalachiain continued its dominate play in the early goings of third set action as well, grabbing a 13-6 lead, thanks in part to strong play by Becca Norris and Kuehner. However, the Catamounts would not back down easily, cutting their deficit to just two points at the 13-11 mark.

The two points would be the closest of margins for WCU, with Seeds giving ASU a 20-15 advantage. A solo block by Kuehner and a kill by Sedon helped the Apps cruise to a 25-19 third set victory.

The two squads battled in the fourth set, with ASU posting a 15-8 lead. Appalachian was able to take advantage of WCU errors and was paced on the offensive front by both Sedon and Seeds.

Western Carolina pulled within one point at the 19-18 mark off a kill by Brittany Lysik. ASU proved to be too much as block assists by Seeds and Sedon, a solo block by Seeds and another block assist by Seeds and Norris gave ASU a 25-20 fourth set win and 3-1 match win.

Four Mountaineers finished the contest in double-figures kills with Seeds and Sedon tying for a team-high 11. Sauls was also strong on the offensive front, tallying 42 assists.

WCU's Lynzee Brooks had a match-high 15 kills.

The Black and Gold continues with its grueling road swing, as the Mountaineers head to Birmingham, Ala. to take on SoCon North Division leader Samford, Saturday November 7 at 8 p.m.