GREENVILLE, S.C.- Appalachian State University volleyball was unable to hang with defending Southern Conference South Division champion Furman Saturday afternoon at Alley Gym, as the Apps were handed a 3-0 loss by their conference foe. The defeat marks Appalachian's second straight in league action and drops ASU to 13-7 on the season and 4-3 in SoCon play, while Furman improves to 12-8 overall and a stout 6-2 in conference action.
The Black and Gold posted a strong start in the opening set, as play was tied nine times before reaching the 11-point mark.
It was a Lauren Swecker kill that knotted action at 11, however Appalachian errors helped Furman take a 15-12 lead.
A Natalie Braun kill increased FU's advantage to four points, up 16-12, and it appeared that the Paladins would run away with the set.
Down but not out, Meghann Forshey registered a solo block and that coupled with a Furman attack error tied action once more at 21.
Despite the set being tied at 21, Furman would not let up, and two Mountaineer attack errors combined with a Chandler Ambrester kill gave FU the 25-22 first set win.
Ambrester finished with a match-high 17 kills, while also recording nine digs.
After jumping out to an impressive 10-3 second set lead, ASU was unable to stave off a resilient Paladin squad.
It was strong play by Alison Blasingame and multiple Paladin errors that enabled the Apps to earn their advantage.
Picking up their pace, the Paladins would not give up so easily.
A 5-1 streak by FU put the set back in reach for the home team, who found themselves down by just three points at 17-14.
The hotly contested set grew more intense, and another Appalachian hitting error, combined with a setting error pushed Furman to its first lead of the set up 22-21.
An all out battle ensued, and the back and forth affair was tied on five more occasions, before two final Mountaineer attack errors helped Furman edge ASU 28-26.
An Anna Wagner slam tied play at 10 apiece in third set action, but it was all Furman from there, outscoring Appalachian 15-5 the rest of the set.
Wagner ended the match with a team-high 10 kills in addition to tallying nine digs..
Appalachian would pull within one point down just 13-12, but that would be the narrowest of margins as Furman was too much for ASU.
Looking to snap its two-match skid, Appalachian closes out its four-match road trip at Wofford tomorrow. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in the Terriers' Benjamin Johnson Arena.
