STATESBORO, GA – Sweeping the Western Carolina Catamounts inside Hanner Fieldhouse, the Georgia Southern volleyball team improved to 17-8 on the year and 7-3 in Southern Conference play. The Eagles, led by sophomore Lauren Claybaugh who contributed 11 kills and five digs in the win, held WCU to a .115 hitting efficiency, while striking .368 from the floor. Western Carolina dropped to 3-21 and 0-10 in conference play.
Committing only three errors on 18 attempts for a .444 clip, Claybaugh (Danville, Calif.) led the Eagles’ offense with a match-high 11 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Bethany Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) added 10 kills in the winning effort, while only committing two errors for a .500 hitting percentage. Pacing the hitters with a match-high 30 assists was freshman setter Kate Van Dyke (Shawnee, Kan.). Senior libero Cristin Haines (Palos Heights, Ill.) kept the Georgia Southern defense on pace with 17 digs.
The Catamounts were held to single digits by the Eagles as Carrie Minogue led WCU with seven kills. Amanda Chaparro and Brittany Lysik led with five assists each as three Catamounts followed with four apiece. Katie Hennessey put up 16 assists for WCU, who hit .115 from the floor.
WCU challenged Georgia Southern in an opening stanza that witnessed 11 ties and six lead changes. Helped by four kills on behalf of Sanford, the Eagles took the final lead of the set following an 18-all tilt. Van Dyke put the Eagles on top with a kill as Parker Small (Charlotte, N.C.) gave Georgia Southern a two-point advantage, 20-18. WCU picked up a side out before Small retaliated with her third kill of the set. A Sarah Gildersleeve (Naples, Fla.) kill forced Western Carolina to take a timeout at 22-19. The Catamounts fought off one set point after Moriah Bellissimo (Blackstone, Va.) put the Eagles within striking distance as Claybaugh sealed the set at 25-21.
Four consecutive kills from Sanford opened the second set for Georgia Southern as the Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Putting together a 4-0 run, the Catamounts knotted the set at 4-apiece and again at 9-all before Georgia Southern took control for the final time. WCU pulled to within one at 14-13, but the Eagles stood fast and continued to pull away leading by as many as many as eight points at first set point, 24-16. The Catamounts delayed the end adding four points to the board before Danielle Graham (Cincinnati, Ohio) finalized the second set, 25-20.
Returning from intermission, WCU tested Georgia Southern to open the third stanza, eventually taking the lead at 11-10. Claybaugh quickly tied the set as Bellissimo put the Eagles in front, 12-11. The Catamounts tied the set for the final time at 12-all as Georgia Southern took control and never looked back. Holding a six-point lead at 20-14, WCU took a timeout before the Eagles sealed the win on a 5-3 run. A service error from Rebecca Stoltz concluded the match at 25-17.
“We got off to a slow start today, but once we made some substitutions, it was nice to see the kids step up, make some good plays and bring some energy to the court. I thought Lauren [Claybaugh] played well throughout the match. She kept her energy high and had some quality swings,” said head coach Chad Callihan. “We need to get our consistency back before our weekend coming up as it was disappointing to see the way we started today.”
Georgia Southern continues this homestand playing host to Furman on Parents’ Night Out and Junior Eagle Club Day on October 30th and Wofford on Costume Night, Saturday, October 31st. Match times are set for 7 p.m. both nights.
