BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State will welcome three other teams to the High Country for the Appalachian Invitational from Thursday to Saturday. The Mountaineers battle Western Carolina in their 2019 home opener on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a meeting with Iowa State on Friday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and N.C. State on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
THE SERIES
- App State holds a 49-30 edge in the all-time series with Western Carolina. The Catamounts won the last meeting in 2016 by a 3-2 count on their home court
- Iowa State leads the all-time series with the Mountaineers 2-0. The two teams last met in 2015 with the Cyclones winning 3-2 on a neutral court
- The Mountaineers and N.C. State have met 18 previous time with the Wolfpack leading the series 14-4. The two teams last met in 2013, with the Wolfpack posting a 3-0 win in Raleigh
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
- App State stands at 2-5 on the season after falling 3-0 at Clemson on Tuesday. Emma Longley posted a season-best 18 kills, while Grace Kinsch (10) and Emma Reilly (10) each tallied double digit digs
- For their efforts at the Duke Invitational last weekend, Kara Spicer and Reilly were named Sun Belt Players of the Week. Spicer hit .509 in three matches at the Duke Invitational, finishing with 36 kills for her second Offensive Player of the Week honor of her career. Reilly averaged 6.09 digs per set over the weekend and recorded the 1,000th dig of her career for her first Defensive Player of the Week accolade
- On the season, Spicer is hitting a team-high .413, which also ranks second in the Sun Belt
- Reilly has tallied a conference-best 141 digs and also is tops in the league in digs per set (5.42)
- Longley leads the team with 89 total kills and is averaging 3.42 kills per set
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
- Western Carolina posted a 1-2 mark at the Chicago State Tournament this past weekend and stands at 2-4 on the season
- Merry Gebel leads the Catamount offensive attached with 72 kills (3.43 k/s). Abigail Velt (52 kills, 2.48 k/s) and Madison McNally (46 kills, 2.30 k/s) also are averaging over 2.0 kills a set
- On defense Meagan Sanchez has 115 digs (5.48 d/s) with Gebel and Velt each with 65 (3.10 d/s) apiece
- Hannah Price has 103 assists on the season and is averaging 10.30 per set
SCOUTING THE CYCLONES
- Iowa State improved to 3-3 on the season with a 3-1 triumph over Northern Iowa on Tuesday evening. Eleanor Holthaus posted her second straight double-double with 12 kills and 21 digs. Piper Mauck also had a double-double with 48 assists and 10 digs
- The Cyclones featured a balanced offensive attached with Holthaus leading the team in total kills with 66 (2.75 k/s) and Annie Hatch averaging a team-best 2.82 kills per set. Candelaria Herrera is hitting a team-high .283 on the season
- On defense, Izzy Enna has a team-best 82 digs (3.42 d/s), followed by Holthaus (66, 2.75 d/s), Mauck (60, 2.61 d/s) and Michal Schuler (59, 2.46 d/s)
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
- N.C. State dropped to 2-4 on the season after dropping a tough 3-2 contest to East Carolina on Tuesday. Melissa Evans had a team-high 14 kills, with Jessica Kemp adding 11. Nina Sharpton dished out a career-high 24 assists
- Evans has a team-best 81 kills (3.52 k/s) and is hitting .218. Pam Chukwujekwu has a team-best .448 hitting mark.
- On defense, Kaylee Frazier has a team-high 112 digs (4.87 d/s). Jade Parchment (51, 2.22 d/s) and Nina Sharpton (50, 2.17) also have recorded 50 or more digs on the season
- Lauryn Terry has 21 total blocks with Evans and Chukwujekwu right behind with 19 and 18, respectively
UP NEXT
App State will close out non-conference play with three matches next weekend. The Mountaineers battle Furman and Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. on Sept. 20, followed by a neutral court meeting with Maryland on Sept. 21 in Columbia, S.C.
