Freshmen Lead Volleyball Over Western Carolina
GSU wins their second straight match to move to 9-11 overall and 3-3 in the SoCon. WCU falls to 3-16 and 1-5.
“I thought we did a good job of competing tonight,” said GSU head coach Chad Callihan. “I was proud of our effort. I don’t know that we played our best volleyball I don’t know that either team played their best volleyball but I thought both teams competed well. We did a good job of, in critical moments, making the plays necessary to get the W.’
Rookies Bethany Sanford (Avondale, Ariz.) and Hayli Ketner (Spartanburg, S.C.) each recorded double-doubles. Sanford had 16 kills and a personal-best 18 digs while Ketner added 11 kills and 17 digs, also a new career-high.
Fellow freshmen Lauren Claybaugh (Danville, Calif.) just missed out on a double-double with 11 kills and nine digs and Parker Small (Charlotte, N.C.) recorded nine kills on a team-best .286 hitting percentage.
“They all did a good job,” said Callihan. “I don’t know if we had our best legs tonight we had a spirited week of practice and I think it may have taken its toll a little bit so I was proud of our effort. They got out there and grinded well. Defensively we did some things that I haven’t seen us do in recent weeks so it’s nice to see us get that back. It was also good to see a young group of players playing composed. They were stepping up and making plays in critical moments.”
Up 2-1, the Eagles saved two set points in the fourth frame, rallying from a 24-22 deficit on a kill each from Sanford, Ketner and Claybaugh. The Catamounts saved a match point themselves, but another kill from Sanford and a WCU error closed out the match.
“Like I said, they just really competed and battled,” said Callihan. “They were determined to get that win tonight. They faced a little adversity and stepped up big.”
The two teams were separated by three points just once in the fourth set after Western took an early 7-4 lead.
The Catamounts’ Amanda Kerr led all players with 22 kills on 58 swings.
Georgia Southern takes a day off before completing their road trip Sunday at Appalachian State.
- Category: Volleyball
- Published on Friday, 10 October 2008 00:03
