CULLOWHEE, N.C.- After taking a 2-1 match lead, Appalachian State University volleyball battled Southern Conference foe Western Carolina to five sets and was able to push past its league rival, earning a hotly-contested 3-2 win. The victory improves the Black and Gold to 11-4 on the season and a spotless 2-0 in conference play, while the Catamounts drop to 5-12 overall and a winless 0-2 in SoCon action.
After cruising to wins in the first and third sets, Appalachian saw its 2-1 match lead dwindle, as WCU was able to muster a comeback and push action to five sets.
Once fifth set play was tied at four, Anna Wagner got things going for the Black and Gold, as the junior registered a kill to put the Mountaineers on top for good.
Western Carolina tried to keep things interesting cutting ASU's lead to one point, but Appalachian picked up its pace and dominated the Catamounts.
ASU outscored WCU 9-2 to notch the 15-7 fifth set and 3-2 match win.
Impressive play on the offensive and defensive fronts by Kelly Rhein, Caroline Sedon, Meghann Forshey and Maggie Seeds all propelled ASU.
Rhein ended the evening tying a season-high in kills, pouring in 17, while also recording 19 digs and two block assists. The double-digit kill and dig outing marked the sixth time this season, Rhein has posted a double-double.
The first set proved to be no problem for the Mountaineers who drilled their Southern Conference rival to the tune of 25-12.
The Black and Gold grabbed the early 3-0 advantage, but WCU found its rhythm and play was knotted twice before a Rhein kill gave ASU the final lead, up 5-4.
A 6-1 Appalachian streak proved to be the difference-maker in the set, with the Apps taking the commanding 11-5 advantage. Blocking along with offensive production by Rhein and Sedon kept ASU in front.
ASU continued its solid play and even though WCU managed to pull within five points that would be the narrowest of margins. Catamount errors combined with Seeds, Forshey and Lauren Swecker all tallying kills gave ASU control of the set, up 18-9.
Appalachian outscored its conference foe 7-3 down the stretch and rolled to an impressive 13-point first set victory.
The second set was not as easy for ASU, as the Mountaineers could not shake a chippy Western Carolina squad and found itself behind 9-5.
After play was tied at five apiece, Western Carolina posted a silencing 8-1 streak, making the score 13-6 in the Catamount's favor.
Amanda Chaparro led the way for WCU during the run, as she totaled three kills and two service aces.
Chaparro was one of three Catamounts that finished the match with double-digit kills, posting 10.
Never able to get anything going, Appalachian's deficit increased to seven points, behind 17-10 as attack errors and WCU capitalizing on the offensive front hindered the Apps.
Leading by as many as eight points, the Catamounts evened the match at one, taking a 25-16 second set win.
Appalachian was able to rebound however in third set play thanks in part to four early errors by the Catamounts.
The four errors and two Alison Blasingame kills pushed ASU to a 6-1 lead and that was all the Black and Gold needed.
Kills by Rhein and Seeds and Catamount errors saw Appalachian go up 12-5, and a Forshey kill a few plays later earned Appalachian a double-digit lead, up 16-6. WCU was never able to recover.
Rhein paced the Mountaineers in the set, tallying four key kills to help ASU stave off a tough Catamount squad, and final points by Wagner and Seeds earned Appalachian another stout 25-15 third set victory.
Despite leading 2-1, a battle ensued, as the Catamounts would not go away quietly.
It was all Western Carolina in the early goings of the fourth set, before another kill by Rhein knotted play at 10 all.
A service ace by Blasingame and a Catamount error earned ASU the two-point advantage, however Western Carolina came back to tie play once again. The fourth set saw the score tied three more times before a resilient Western Carolina team took over.
Leah Best recorded a kill and WCU posted yet another run, outscoring ASU 5-1 to go up 20-16.
The outcome appeared bleak for Appalachian which faced a four-point deficit, down 22-18, but the Apps were able to rally and tie play again at 22 all.
In a back and forth affair Chaparro came through yet again for Western Carolina and the Catamounts tied the match at two.
Strong play in the fifth set gave ASU the eight-point set victory and match win.
With little time to rest, the Black and Gold return to the High Country 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.
