Monday, September 30, 2013

Sumler Named College Sports Madness SoCon Preseason Player of the Year

Redshirt senior guard Trey Sumler has been named the Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year by College Sports Madness.  Sumler  was also named to the first team All-Conference team.

Sumler who was also named by a team captain by the 2013-14 Catamount players, was second in the SoCon and 44th in the NCAA with 18.4 points per game last season, earning All-SoCon First Team and SoCon All-Tournament team accolades.

Purple & Gold congratulates Trey on his selection.


Join the conversation by leaving a comment below


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Poston wins back to back tournaments




Western Carolina's J.T. Poston won his second-straight individual golf championship of the season at the Cardinal Intercollegiate.

Hosted by the University of Louisville at the par-72, 7,036-yard, Cardinal Club, Poston's final round score of three-under par, 69 was enough to give him his second championship in as many tournaments.

Poston's second individual victory comes after his individual medalist honors at the season-opening Golfweek Program Challenge where he matched a program record-low score of 205. 

Monday, September 23, 2013

Volleyball - #12 Lauren Saxby

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#12 Lauren Saxby

Class: Freshman
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
High School: Wakefield HS
Height: 5-10
Position: OH




High School: Three-year letter winner at Wakefield HS ... Three-time Cap-8 Conference champion ... All-conference honors during junior and senior year ... Named Raleigh Sports Club Student-Athlete of the Week senior season ... Science Honor Society and English Honor Society member ... Beta Club member ... A/B Honor Roll student all four years ... Played club volleyball at Triangle Volleyball Club.

Personal: Daughter of Robert and Lois Saxby ... Sister is Erica ... Plays the trumpet.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Friday, September 20, 2013

Volleyball - #8 Courtney Ireland

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#8 Courtney Ireland

Class: Freshman
Hometown: Cleveland, N.C.
High School: Cleveland HS
Height: 5-10
Position: OH




High School: Four-year letter winner at Cleveland High School ... Earned all-conference sophomore, junior and senior seasons ... Two-time All-Conference Player of the Year - junior and senior year ... Voted team's Most Valuable Player junior and senior year ... Holds the school record for career kills and career blocks ... Three-time all-conference basketball player ... National Honor Society member sophomore, junior and senior year ... Graduated in the top-ten percent.

Personal: Daughter of Doug and Sherri Ireland ... Has one sibling, Danielle.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Video - SoCon Football Gameday: Week 4 Preview




Video Courtesy Southern Conference Media Relations

Volleyball - #1 Hailey Cook

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount freshman

#1 Hailey Cook

Class: Freshman
Hometown: Hendersonville, N.C.
High School: Hendersonville HS
Height: 6-2
Position: OH




High School: Four-year letter winner at Hendersonville ... Had over 1,000 career high school kills ... Four-time all-conference performer ... Two-time Conference Player of the Year during junior and senior years ... Three-time all-area player ... Two-time All-Area Player of the Year ... State champion senior season ... North Carolina Female Athlete of the Year senior season ... Named Hendersonville High School Most Valuable ... Earned academic all-conference all four years ... National Honor Society member three times ... Graduated in the top-ten percent of her class ... Also state champion as an individual and team in track and field.

Personal: Daughter of Mark and Leah Cook ... Dad played football at ETSU ... Mom played volleyball at Maryville College ... Brother, Welsey, played football at WCU and is a 2013 graduate.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Football Two Deep vs Mars Hill

Click on Chart to Enlarge




Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Video - Great Smokies Intercollegiate


Volleyball - #6 Cristina Nazario

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount sophomore

#6 Cristina Nazario

Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
High School: Spring Valley
Height: 5-11
Position: S




2014 (Freshman): Appeared in all 31 of the team's matches with 30 starts in 2013 ... Had 983 assists to lead the team ... Finished with 9.27 assists per set ... Ranked eighth in the Southern Conference ... Averaged 1.89 digs per set, 0.36 blocks per set and 0.77 blocks per set ... Has four matches with ten or more digs, all four were double-doubles ... Led the team in assists in 29 matches, blocks three times and digs once ... Recorded a double-double with 31 assists and 19 digs in her collegiate debut against Northern Kentucky (08/24) ... The 19 digs in the match was a career-high ... Handed out 47 assists at UNC Asheville (09/04) ... Passed out a career-high 54 assists against Campbell (09/08) ... Earned a double-double with 29 assists and 18 digs against North Florida (09/14) ... Had three consecutive 40-plus assists matches with 44 against UNCG (09/29), 45 against Appalachian State (10/04) and 40 against Davidson (10/06) ... Earned third double-double 43 assists and 10 digs against The Citadel (10/19) ... Followed with 52 assists against the College of Charleston (10/21) ... Had 47 assists and nine digs against Elon (10/27) ... Had 41 assists and 11 digs for fourth and final double-double of the season at Georgia Southern (11/03).

High School: Played on the Spring Valley varsity team all four years of high school ... Named Best All-Around Player as a freshman ... Received the Captain's Award three of her four years ... Named First Team Palmetto Region as a freshman and a sophomore ... Named All-Region as a junior and senior ... Named All-State as a senior ... Also played soccer.

Personal: Daughter of Jenaro and Carmen Nazario ... Has a pair of twin siblings, Maritere and Ana ... Maritere played volleyball for Presbyterian College ... Mother, Carmen, played at the University of Pittsburgh and for the Puerto Rican National Team ... Speaks Spanish ... Plays the violin.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

WCU Rallies to Win Great Smokies Intercollegiate

Western Carolina rallied past first-round leader Samford, to claim the 15th annual Great Smokies Intercollegiate at the par-72, 5,932-yard Waynesville Inn, Golf Resort & Spa.

The Catamounts recorded a program-best, 18-hole score of 283 on Monday en route to a school and tournament-record, 36-hole finish of 570 to edge Samford by four strokes at 574 after the Bulldogs likewise posted a school benchmark with their opening round of 281. Mercer finished third with an even-par tournament score of 576, followed by Eastern Kentucky (582) and Methodist University (590) to round out the top five.

Taylor Allison repeated as the individual title winner, and became the third player in the history of the Great Smokies Intercollegiate to win both back-to-back tournament and to claim individual medalist honors more than once.

Join the conversation by leaving a comment below


Cochran, Timmermann SoCon Players of the Week

Morgan Cochran
Jordan Timmerman
Morgan Cochran and Jordan Timmermann were named the Southern Conference Volleyball Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week.

Cochran opened the week with 19 digs at Gardner-Webb on Tuesday. In the first match of WCU's weekend tournament, Cochran collected 10 digs in a three-set sweep of Mercer before putting together two impressive matches in the same day on Saturday. In the first match against North Carolina A&T, she collected a season-high 31 digs in a three-set win and averaged 10.33 digs per set in the match. In the second match of the day, Cochran became the only player in the NCAA this season to turn in 30 digs twice in the same day. She picked up 30 digs in the four-set loss to the tournament host UNCW. She is one of only two players in the country with three 30-dig matches. She entered the weekend ranked fourth in the NCAA in digs per set at 6.10 but raised her average by .26 digs per set. She currently leads the NCAA with a 6.36 digs per set average.

Timmermann, paced the Catamounts offensively with 55 kills on 149 attempts, with a .262 hitting percentage in four matches last week. Timmermann averaged 3.93 kills per set as WCU went 2-2, including 2-1 at the Hilton Garden Inn Mayfaire UNCW Volleyball Classic over the weekend. She opened the week with 16 kills on 39 attempts and only two errors for a .359 hitting percentage in the Catamounts' 3-1 loss at Gardner-Webb. In two 3-0 wins against Mercer and North Carolina A&T, she had 11 and 12 kills, respectively. In the team's final match of the week, a 3-1 loss to UNCW, she tallied 16 kills to lead the team in kills in all four matches during the week. Timmermann has led the Catamounts in kills seven times this season and 27 times in her career. She eclipsed the double-digit kill mark in all four matches this week, as well as nine times this season and 31 times in her career.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

2014 WCU Basketball Commit - Alex Hicks

Alex Hicks
Position:  Power Forward

Alex Hicks has made a verbal commitment to play basketball for the Western Carolina Catamounts.  Hicks is the Catamounts first commitment from the high school class of 2014

Hometown:  Phenix City, AL
High School:  Glenwood School
Height:  6-8
Weight:  195


Alex Hick has received offers from Western Carolina, App State, Florida Atlantic, Radford, Austin Peay, and Jacksonville.

Join the conversation by leaving a comment below


Volleyball - #3 Nicole Ford

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount sophomore

 #3 Nicole Ford

Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Kings Mountain, N.C.
High School: Kings Mountain
Height: 6-0
Position: MB




Freshman (2013): Appeared in all 31 games with 26 starts in 2013 ... Played in 95 of a possible 110 sets ... Started ten straight games from September 15 through October 12 ... Averaged 1.75 kills, 0.16 aces, 0.67 blocks and 2.28 points per set ... Finished third on the team in all four stat categories ... Had four double-digit kill matches ... Led the team in blocks seven times ... Had one match as kill leader ... Saw her first collegiate action against Northern Kentucky (08/24) ... Hit .400 after nine kills with three errors on 15 attempts against Saint Peter's (08/25) ... Recorded a career-high 11 kills and career-high eight digs against Campbell (09/08) ... Held a .350 hitting percentage following nine kills on 20 attempts with two errors against Mercer (09/15) ... Had five blocks, all block assists, at Winthrop (09/15) ... Had 15.5 points on 10 kills, three aces and 5 blocks assists at Chattanooga (09/22) ... Also had a career-high five assists in the match ... Tied a career-high with 11 kills against Appalachian State (10/04) ... Added two solo blocks and seven block assists, both career-highs, for a career-high 18.5 points in the match ... Had 14 points on nine kills, two solo blocks, four block assists and on service at UNCG (10/26) ... Had 12.5 points on ten kills, one ace and three block assists vs. Chattanooga (11/09).

High School: Named Big South 3A Conference Player of the Year ... Led her team with 2.6 kills per set and 2.5 digs per set in 2011 ... Paced the team in both categories in 2010 ... Team finished with 11-1 record in 2011 and won the conference championship ... Team captain in 2011 ... Played club for CJV 16s Blaze.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Monday, September 16, 2013

Volleyball - #2 Elyssa Mulheron

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll start highlighting Catamount sophomores

#2 Elyssa Mulheron

Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C.
High School: Mount Tabor
Height: 5-10
Position: LIB




Freshman (2013): Appeared in 40 sets and 18 matches including the first three of the 2012 season ... Had one double-figure dig match ... Made her first collegiate appearance against Northern Kentucky (08/24) ... Had a career-high 13 digs and two assists in the match ... Picked up five digs against Mercer (09/15) ... Recorded eight digs against Samford (11/10).

High School: A three-year varsity starter at Mount Tabor High School ... Earned all-conference and all-county honors all three years ... As a sophomore, earned Most Improved Player honors, Great Eight All-Tournament Honorable mention and recognition by PrepVolleyball.comon its"Best Varsity Playing Sophomores in Country" list ... Led the team in aces, serve receipts and digs as a junior while also being third in kills ... Earned Athlete of the Week honors once as a junior ... Selected as team captain as a senior and earned Mount Tabor's Most Outstanding Player award ... Named Co-Conference Player of the Year during her final season at Mount Tabor ... Was also a member of Set Point Volleyball Club where she was a three-time Carolina Region All-Tournament Team member and also selected as Carolina Region Tournament MVP honors in 2009 ... Played soccer and basketball and earned all-conference and all-region honors in soccer.

Personal: Daughter of Scot and Ellen Mulheron ... Has a brother named Corbin ... Also enjoys skiing, wakeboarding and boating.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Women's Golf hosts Great Smokies Intercollegiate

“Hosting the Great Smokies Intercollegiate for a 15th-straight year as a program is a milestone for WCU women’s golf. This is an on-going tradition which dates back to 1999 – and is one many teams circle on their calendars,” said WCU head coach Mallory Hetzel, who guided the Catamounts to the program’s 10th top-two finish a season ago.

“This year’s 12-team fi eld will make for great competition both for the individual and team championship. I know Taylor (Allison) is anxious to defend her title from a season ago.”










Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

SoCon Pick the winner (week 4)

SoCon Pick the Winner (week 4) brought to you by the SoCon Fans Message Board

Here's week number 4 games - only one conference games this week and Furman/Chattanooga/Georgia Southern has a bye week.

Good Luck in your pics.

Conference
Appalachian State @ Elon
Furman - Open
Chattanooga -  Open
Georgia Southern - Open

Non-Conference 
SE Louisiana @ Samford
Mars Hill @ Western Carolina
The Citadel @ Old Dominion
Gardner-Webb @ Wofford

Bonus
Berry @ Mercer
VMI @ Virginia

Make your picks here


Post Game Quotes - Citadel at Western Carolina

WCU  Head Coach Mark Speir:

Statement: 
"Congratulations to The Citadel; they came in here and did a nice job. They played a good football game and executed on offensive, created on a turnover and a touchdown on special teams. They shut us out in the first half and created a hole too deep for us to climb out. I'm proud of the way our guys fought back, but we made way too many mistakes in assignments and alignments and that is our fault as coaches. It is inexcusable and we did not give ourselves an opportunity to win. I'm proud of the way we fought back. We gave ourselves a chance to tie it up in the fourth quarter, but The Citadel stepped up to the occasion. We didn't and they won the ball game."

On The Citadel's triple option: 
"We had a great week of practice. Sometimes you get youth in there, but we are proud to have them. I'm not making excuses at all, but you can't simulate that against a team that knows how to run it. Especially in the first half we were bad out of shape. To be honest with you, some of it was our older guys. I did not think our secondary fit very well, or our linebackers. I guess we let the moment of the game get too big for us, and that is my fault. Especially in our back seven and that showed up in a big way. Our back seven are some of our older guys."

On the team: 
"My opinion of this team has not changed. We are going to be a good football team, no question about it. We have good athletes, we have good people, good students character guys. It is our job as coaches to get them over that step. It is like teaching a baby to take the first step. Those other steps come a whole lot easier. Our biggest issue this year is we cannot get off to a fast start. We haven't scored in the first quarter and we give up big plays in the first quarter. Then our guys settle in and start playing."

"We have to continue to keep the energy these guys play with. We have to continue to focus on our schemes, our disciple and our composure. That is what I thought we lost in the first quarter and that is my fault."

On penalties: 
"The first half we are driving down in the red zone and we had a holding and personal foul, which I believe was a hands to the face. We find ways right now to self-destruct on offense and that's something we just have to continue to coach to continue to teach these young men the game of football. They were confident and it was a somber locker room. They expected to win. This was the first our players had no disbelief about coming in here and winning this ballgame. They are hurt . I told them we have five more Southern Conference games. All of our goals are still ahead of us and it starts Monday, cleaning it up. You can't expect to win a ball game with double-digit penalties. It is something you have to clean up."


Citadel head coach Kevin Higgins:

“This is so good for our kids,”
“They’ve worked so hard, and our leadership has been very good. They didn’t doubt themselves and got after it the entire game.”

On running the football:
“That’s exactly what we talked about in our meeting last night. We have to be able to run the football, our linemen need to stay on blocks, and we need to get more cuts down field. And we needed to establish the quarterback and fullback again.”

On Ben Dupree playing the whole game:
"Aaron Miller only practiced half of one day because of a sore foot. We figured Ben would get most of the snaps and it worked out that we didn’t have to use Aaron in the game.”

On punter Eric Goins’ run for a first down after dropping a snap: 
“Eric was heads up on that play. I wasn’t sure if he was just going to punt it after he ran a few steps; most freshmen would have. But he’s athletic enough to get that first down, and that was big.”

On the final interception by Julian Baxter: 
“We were in man defense and we brought an extra rusher. We got pressure on the QB and made him reverse field. Then I got nervous that someone would be open down the field. But we had a lot of people aggressively going for the ball, and that was the key.”

Volleyball - #14 Paige McConlogue

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount junior

#14 Paige McConlogue

Class: Junior
Hometown: Albemarle, N.C.
High School: Albemarle
Height: 5-8
Position: DS




Sophomore (2012): Played in 30 matches with 21 starts for the Catamounts ... Picked up 331 total digs ... Averaged 3.18 digs per set to rank second on the team ... Had 12 double-digit dig matches, five 20-plus dig matches ... Enjoyed a career-long streak of five straight matches with double-figure digs ... Led the team in digs twice ... Picked up 22 digs at UNC Asheville (09/04) ... Had 20 digs vs. Campbell (09/08) ... Had back-to-back-to-back double-dig matches with 16 digs vs. North Florida (09/14), 25 digs - one shy of career-high - vs. Mercer (09/15) and 15 digs at Winthrop (09/15) ... Had a career-long streak of double-digit digs with 16 digs at Chattanooga (09/22), 11 digs against Elon (09/28), 18 digs against UNCG (09/29) and Appalachian State (10/04) and 20 digs against Davidson (10/06) ... Recorded 23 digs against the College of Charleston (10/21) ... Had 19 digs at Georgia Southern (11/03).

Freshman (2011): Appeared in 29 matches with three starts for the Catamounts ... Averaged 2.39 digs per set and had 229 total digs ... Recorded double-digit digs ten times ... Had two matches with 20 or more digs ... Led the team in digs three times ... Made her collegiate debut against Western Michigan (08/27) ... Recorded her first career double-digit and 20-plus dig match with 22 digs against UNC Asheville (09/13) ... Earned consecutive 20-plus dig matches with a career-high 26 digs vs. Gardner-Webb (09/16) ... Picked up 17 digs at Gardner-Webb (09/21) ... Had three matches with double-digit digs with back-to-back 17 dig matches against UNCG (10/30) and Georgia Southern (11/05) before collecting 11 digs against Appalachian State (11/08) ... Collected 14 digs at Chattanooga (11/13).

High School: Four-year letter winner at Albemarle High School ... Named to all-conference and all-county teams all four years ... Only the second to reach 1,000 points in school history ... Also selected to all-conference and all-county teams in basketball and soccer, where she received player of the year honors in the Yadkin Valley Conference for both basketball and soccer.

Personal: Daughter of John and Joanne McConlogue ... Enjoys cooking and decorating wedding cakes.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Friday, September 13, 2013

Volleyball - Game Day


Volleyball - #11 Brandi Anderson

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount junior

#11 Brandi Anderson

Class: Junior
Hometown: Holly Springs, N.C.
High School: Holly Springs
Height: 6-3
Position: RS




Sophomore (2012): Played in nine matches for the Catamounts ... Recorded five kills at Elon (10/27).

Freshman (2011): Set a career-high with five kills against USC Upstate (08/30) ... Picked up a block against USC Upstate (08/26).

High School: Two-time team captain ... Named team's Most Outstanding Player for junior and senior seasons ... Selected to the Second-Team All-Conference as a junior and First-Team All-Conference as a senior ... Three-time Academic All-Conference ... Junior and senior class secretary.

Personal: Daughter of Pat and Julie Anderson ... Motion Picture & Television Production major ... Has one older sibling, Brittany.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Thursday, September 12, 2013

View - SoCon Football - Week three



Courtesy SoConSports.com

Okay everybody, it's time to "Start Wearing Purple"

Lets all get ready for the big game Saturday in Cullowhee, so just "Start Wearing Purple"


 

Volleyball - #10 Caitlin Piechota

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount junior

#10 Caitlin Piechota

Class: Junior
Hometown: Batavia, Ill.
High School: Batavia
Height: 5-10
Position: OH




Sophomore (2013):  Appeared in 28 matches with 29 starts in 2012 ... Averaged 2.65 kills per set, 2.88 digs per set, 0.16 aces per set, 0.16 blocks per set and 2.89 points per set ... Led the team in total kills (286) and kills per set ... Had 16 double-digit kills matches and 17 double-digit matches ... Had 13 double-doubles ... One 20 kill match and one 20 dig match ... Had career long double-digit dig streak of 11 matches and double-digit kills streak of five matches ... Recorded 13 doubles-doubles ... Enjoyed a career-long five match double-double streak ... Led the team in kills 18 times, digs three times and blocks twice ... Recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs in the first match of the season against Northern Kentucky (08/24) ... Followed with 19 kills on 28 swing with no errors for career-high .679 hitting percentage against Saint Peter's (08/25) ... Notched a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs against North Carolina A&T (08/25) ... Set new career-high with 20 kills at UNC Asheville (09/04) ... Also recorded a double-double with 13 digs in the match and a career-high 22.5 points with one ace, one solo block and one block assists ... Had 16 kills against Mercer (09/15) ... Made two solo blocks for a career-high at Chattanooga (09/22) ... Picked up career-high 25 digs against Appalachian State (10/04) ... Had three block assists for a career-high at Wofford (10/13) ... Had 15 kills and 10 digs against the College of Charleston (10/21) ... Recorded 15 kills and 18 digs at Elon (10/27) ... Had 14 kills and 14 digs at Georgia Southern (11/03) ... Recorded three block assists in the match tying a career-high.

Freshman (2011):  Named to the 2011 SoCon All-Freshman Team ... SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on September 19 ... Named o the Courtyard Classic All-Tournament Team ... Appeared in and started in 30 of the team's 33 matches ... Averaged 2.65 kills per set, 2.88 digs per set, .0.16 blocks per set and 2.89 points per set ... Led the team in total kills (286) and kills per set ... Had 16 matches with double-figure kills, 15 matches with double-digit digs and two matches with 20 or more digs ... Had 12 double-doubles including season long streak of 4 straight ... Had a season long streak of eight matches with 10 or more digs to close out the season ... Had a season long streak of four matches with kills in double-digits ... Led the team in kills 14 times, digs three times and blocks once ... Made her collegiate debut against North Carolina A&T (09/02) with ten kills, a .348 hitting percentage and nine digs ... Followed with 13 kills against Campbell (09/02) ... Recorded first double-double with 18 kills and 12 digs against UNC Asheville (09/13) as part of a three match double-double streak ... Had 12 kills and 18 digs against Gardner-Webb (09/16) and 11 kills and 10 digs at USC Upstate (09/17) ... Had 13 kills and 18 digs at Gardner-Webb (09/21) ... Collected a career-high 23 digs vs. Wofford (10/14) ... Had a streak of four straight double-doubles 11 kills and 10 digs at the College of Charleston (10/22), 12 kills and 14 digs against Elon (10/29), 17 kills and 11 digs at UNCG (10/30) and 11 kills and 13 digs vs. Georgia Southern (11/05) ... Picked up 22 digs at Chattanooga (11/13).

High School:  Named Batavia High School's Most Valuable Player as a freshman and a sophomore ... Selected as the Upstate Eight Conference Player of the Year junior and senior seasons ... Chosen as the 2010 Kane County Player of the Year ... Logged 224 points and 217 digs as a senior ... Team won the 2010 Upstate Eight Conference title.

Personal:  Daughter of Joe and Kim Piechota ... Mother, Kim, played collegiate volleyball and her father, Joe, played minor league baseball in the Expos' organization.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

September 11, 2001


Poston Wins Golfweek Program Challenge



J.T. Poston claimed individual medalist honors in the season-opening Golfweek Program Challenge at the par-72, 6,940-yard True Blue Golf Club.

As a team, the Catamounts finished in a three-way tie for fifth in the 12-team field.

Volleyball: #9 Jordan Timmermann

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount junior

#9 Jordan Timmermann

Class: Junior
Hometown: Florissant, Mo.
High School: Incarnate Word Academy
Height: 5-9
Position: OH




Sophomore (2012): Appeared in all 31 matches with 29 starts for the Catamounts ... Averaged 2.82 kills per set, 1.97 digs per set, 0.62 blocks per set and 3.33 points per set ... Finished second on the team in kills per set ... Had 14 double-digit kill matches and 9 double-digit dig matches with six double-doubles ... Had two matches with 20 or more kills ... Led the team in kills 13 times, blocks 13 times and digs once ... Opened the season with 11 kills against Northern Kentucky (08/24) ... Held a career-high .476 hitting with 12 kills on 21 swings and two errors against North Carolina A&T (08/25) ... Earned first double-double of the season with 15 kills and 14 dig at UNC Asheville (09/04) ... Notched a career-high 21 kills vs. Campbell (09/08) ... Also had 12 digs in the match for a double-double ... Recorded 20 kills and 11 digs at Chattanooga (09/22) ... Collected a season-high 17 digs against UNCG (09/29) ... Had back-to-back double-doubles with 14 kills and 11 digs against Appalachian State (10/04) and 15 kills and 13 digs against Davidson (10/06) ... Earned final double-double with 10kills and 11 digs vs. The Citadel (10/19) ... Tied a career-high with five total blocks twice with one solo block and four block assists at Elon (10/27) and at Georgia Southern (11/03)

Freshman (2011): Named to the 2011 SoCon All-Freshman Team ... Two-time SoCon Freshman of the Week -- Sept. 19, Oct. 17 ... Started in all 33 matches ... Averaged 2.15 kills per set, 2.62 digs per set and 0.43 blocks per set ... Second on the team in total digs, 355, and digs der set ... Led the team in kills seven times, blocks six times, and digs six times ... Had ten double-digit kill matches and 18 double-digit dig matches ... Picked up 20 or more digs twice ... Recorded double figure kills six straight matches ... Also had a double-digit dig streak last six matches ... Recorded seven double-doubles including a season long streak of four straight ... Made her collegiate debut with seven kills and 12 digs against USC Upstate (08/26) ... Notched consecutive double-doubles with 11 kills and 11 digs against UNC Asheville (09/13) and 11 kills and 13 digs against Gardner-Webb (09/16) ... Earned 14 kills, for a season-high, and picked up 21 digs against Wofford (10/14) ... Had a four-match double-double streak with 11 kills and 18 digs at the College of Charleston (10/22), 12 kills and 11 digs vs. Elon (10/29), 10 kills and 14 digs against UNCG (10/30) and 14 kills and 10 digs vs. Georgia Southern (11/05) ... Picked up a career-high 22 digs at Chattanooga (11/13) ... Also had a career-high five blocks, one solo and four block assists, in the match.

High School: Four-time district and sectional champion at Incarnate Word Academy ... Two-time all-conference selection ... Selected Second-Team All-State as a senior ... Made all-district, all-conference and all-metro teams during senior year ... Named team captain for her senior season.

Personal: Parents are Joe and Phyllis Timmermann... Has three siblings.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The SoCon Weekly

SoCon Weekly highlights the past week in the Southern Conference and previews upcoming athletic events. 


WCU Two-Deep Roster - Citadel Game


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Volleyball - #4 Leah Butler

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount junior

#4 Leah Butler

Class: Junior
Hometown: Carrizo Springs, TX
High School: Carrizo Springs
Height: 5-10
Position: MB




Sophomore (2012): Appeared in 25 of the team's 31 matches with 12 starts in 2012 ... Played in 65 sets ... Averaged 1.99 points, 1.72 kills, 0.49 blocks and .38 digs per set ... Was the team leader in blocks in four matches ... Had four matches with double-figure kills ... Started her first collegiate game against Northern Kentucky (08/24) ... Had a career-high three assists and four total blocks, all four block assists, in the match ... Record two kills in the match, as well ... Notched 17 kills for a career-high and held a .387 hitting percentage at UNC Asheville (09/04) ... Earned a career-high 19 points with two solo blocks, also a career-high, in the match ... Notched 12 kills against Campbell (09/08) ... Held a .583 hitting percentage at Winthrop (09/15) with seven kills on 12 attempts with no errors ... Had 10 kills and a .333 hitting percentage against the College of Charleston (10/21) ... Tied a career-high with four block assists for 12 total points in the match.

Freshman (2011): Appeared in four matches in 2011.

High School: Two-time First-Team All-District selection... Also played on the golf and track & field teams... Elected student council and class president at Carrizo Springs ... Named her graduating class' Salutatorian.

Personal: Daughter of Micheal Butler and Selamawit Butler... Speaks Amharic.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Monday, September 9, 2013

Volleyball - #5 Addy George

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount junior

#5 Addy George

Class: Junior
Hometown: Aberdeen, N.C.
High School: Pinecrest
Position: MB





Sophomore (2013): Appeared in 26 matches with 26 starts in 2013 ... Started the last 17 matches including all 16 Southern Conference matches ... Played in 96 sets ... Averaged 1.64 kills, .97 blocks and 2.22 points per set ... Finished fourth in the Southern Conference and led the team in blocks per set ... Ranked seventh all-time for blocks per set in 2012 ... Led the team with .216 hitting percentage ... Led the team in blocks 18 times and kills once ... Had double-digit kills four times ... Recorded 11 kills on 18 swings with one error for a .556 hitting percentage against Campbell (09/08) ... Had nine kills and one error on 12 swings for a .667 hitting percentage against Gardner-Webb (09/12) ... Earned a career-high ten total blocks with two solo blocks and eight block assists, both career-highs, against Appalachian State (10/04) ... Followed up 12 kills and a .379 hitting percentage against Davidson (10/06) ... Recorded 13.5 total points in the match with on solo block and on block assists ... Scored 14.5 points for a career-high against the College of Charleston (10/21) on 12 kills, three block assists and one solo block ... Hit .450 with 11 kills at Elon (10/27) ... Had a nine total blocks, two solo tying a career-high and seven block assists, against Samford (11/10).

Freshman (2011): Saw action in ten matches ...Made collegiate debut with two kills against Western Michigan (08/27)... Tallied two blocks and an ace against N.C. A&T (09/02) ... Had four kills on five attempts against Elon (10/29).

High School: Graduated a semester early to enroll at WCU in the spring of 2011 ... Named All-Southeast Conference junior and senior season ... Named the 2010 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year... Began high school career at Ramstein High School in Germany... Three-time letter winner at Pinecrest... Notched 48 service aces and 49 blocks her senior season... Also competed in soccer and basketball

Personal: Daughter of Clint and Mindy George ... Born in West Jordan, Utah ... Oldest of five children ... Plays the violin and piano ... Great-uncle, Johnny Longden, won the Triple Crown on Count Fleet in 1943.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Sunday, September 8, 2013

SoCon Pick the winner (week 3)

SoCon Pick the Winner (week 3) brought to you by the SoCon Fans Message Board

Okay, here's week number 3 games - two conference games this week and App State has a bye week.   Good Luck in your pics.


Conference 
The Citadel at Western Carolina
Georgia Southern at Wofford

Non-Conference 
Elon at North Carolina A&T
Presbyterian at Furman
Samford at Florida A&M
Austin Peay at UT-Chattanooga
App State - Open

Bonus Picks
Warner at Mercer
North Greenville at VMI

To make your picks, click here

Volleyball - #7 Morgan Cochra

Catamount Volleyball is off to a great start this season, lets get to know the team a little better.

Today we'll highlight a Catamount senior

 #7 Morgan Cochra

Class: Senior
Hometown: Lakeland, Fla.
High School: Eastern Alamance
Height: 5-7
Position: LIB




Junior (2012): Appeared and started in all 31 matches at the libero position ... Finished ranked second in the SoCon with 5.53 digs per set ... Digs per set average ranks second in a single season at WCU ... Collected 608 digs to rank second in single-season at WCU ... Had 27 matches with double-digit digs ... Had 18 matches with 20 or more digs ... Recorded 30 or more digs in four matches ... Had 13 matches without a reception error ... Had 21 digs against North Carolina A&T (08/25) ... Picked up 23 digs verse Campbell (09/08) ... Had 28 digs against North Florida (09/14) ... Followed up with first 30 dig performance with 33 digs against Mercer (09/15) ... Had 33 digs at Chattanooga (09/22) ... Earned a career-high 35 digs against Appalachian State (10/04) ... Had 23 digs against Davidson (10/06) to cap off a career long five match streak with 20 or more digs ... Tied five-match streak with 20 or more digs starting at Wofford (10/13) with 22 digs and ending with 21 digs against Elon (10/27) ... Had 29 digs at Georgia Southern (11/03) ... Picked up 32 digs against Chattanooga (11/09).

Sophomore (2011): Appeared and start in 25 matches for the Catamounts ... Finished ranked fifth in the SoCon with 4.63 digs per set ... Digs per set average ranked fourth in a single-season at WCU ... Recorded double digit digs in 23 matches in the final 18 matches ... Recorded 20 or more digs in seven matches ... Led the team in digs 21 times ... Had six matches without a reception error ... Recorded 20 digs at UNC Asheville (10/04) ... Collected 25 digs in back-to-back matches against Wofford (10/14) and Furman (10/16) ... Four 20 or more digs in four straight matches: 22 against Elon (10/29), 21 against UNCG (10/30), 20 against Georgia Southern (11/05) and 23 against Appalachian State (11/08)

Freshman (2010): Named to the 2010 SoCon All-Freshman Team at the libero position ... Averaged 4.14 digs per set to rank fourth in the SoCon ... Digs per set averaged ranked sixth in a single-season at WCU ... Collected 459 digs for eighth in a single-season ... Had double-digit digs in 26 matches including the 12 matches ... Had seven matches of 20 or more digs ... Had five matches with no reception errors ... Made her collegiate debut with 19 digs against Coppin State (08/27) ... Followed with first 20-plus dig performance with 23 digs against Eastern Kentucky (08/27) ... Set a career-high with 29 digs against UNC Asheville (09/18) ... Recorded four consecutive 20-plus dig matches with back-to-back 21 dig matches against Bethune-Cookman (09/26) and Appalachian State (09/29), 25 digs against UNCG (10/02) and 21 digs against Elon (10/03) ... Picked up 26 digs at Chattanooga (10/09) ... Had 22 digs against Georgia Southern (10/22).

High School: Four-year letterwinner at Eastern Alamance High School ... Helped her team to conference titles during junior and senior campaigns ... Selected to the all-conference team in 2007-09, earning Player of the Year accolades in 2009 ... Named Eastern Alamance High School's Athlete of the Year during her senior year ... Helped team capture the 2009 Invitational Championships, earning Most Outstanding Player honors ... Ranked as the No. 1 defensive player in North Carolina according to MaxPreps.com.

Personal: Daughter of Van and Nancy Cochran ... Has three brothers, Waylon, Logan and Carson ... Hobbies include playing the guitar and piano in addition to singing.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Friday, September 6, 2013

Soccer - #29 Sheridan Caudle

Western Carolina women's soccer kicked off the 2013 campaign on Aug 7th with their first preseason practice of 2013.

The Catamounts return 20 players from the 2012 squad, including five seniors and 10 juniors. The Cats also welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#29 Sheridan Caudle


Class: Freshman
Hometown: Yadkinville, N.C.
High School: Forbush HS
Height: 5-5
Position: D
Club Team: YSA Fury



High School: Named Honorable Mention All Conference and All Region her Sophomore Season ... Her senior year was named All Conference and All Region and All State along with Conference Player of the Year and All Region 10 Player of the year ... Forbush High School was runner up at the 2A State Championship 2010, Conference Champions in 2010, 2011, and 2013 seasons and also went 91-10-5 over her career there.

Club Soccer: Team Captain, Twin City Classic Champions in 2012

Personal: Daughter of Timothy and Cheryl Caudle ... Has one sister, Katelynd ... National Honor Society 2012-2013 ... Interesting Facts: Plays piano ... Played 12 years of softball and attends mission trips every summer.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Soccer - #28 Krista LaPlante

Western Carolina women's soccer kicked off the 2013 campaign on Aug 7th with their first preseason practice of 2013.

The Catamounts return 20 players from the 2012 squad, including five seniors and 10 juniors. The Cats also welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#28 Krista LaPlante


Class: Freshman
Hometown: Wilkesboro, N.C.
High School: West Wilkes HS
Height: 5-2
Position: F/M




High School: Freshman year named Most Improved Player, junior year team captain and named All Conference Honorable Mention ... Senior year team captain, MVP, All Conference, most goals and assists, team went 34-26-3 over her four year career.

Personal: Daughter of James Kevin and Donna Elaine LaPlante ... Has one brother JJ LaPlante and one sister Sierra LaPlante ... Varsity Cross Country MVP three years and all conference and all-region three years in high school, also a singer and songwriter ... Brother JJ is a three time high school wrestler and her dad Kevin wrestled at Appalachian State.


Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

2014 WCU Football Prospect - Keion Crossen

Keion Crossen
Position:  Cornerback



Hometown:  Conway, NC
High School:  Northampton County
Height:  5'10"
Weight:  165 lbs



Crossen has drawn interest from WCU, NC State, UNC, and East Carolina.  He has a scholarship offer for Track and Field from UNCW.

"With two months to rest, Crossen’s senior season was more than two months away. The thing is, the Jaguars senior four-sport athlete does not believe in rest. With every sport possible becoming year-round for high school athletes, imagine the work load thrown on a kid who plays — and starts — in four varsity sports. Not to mention working a job to earn a little spending money in the summer time."



Soccer - #27 Taylor Wood

Western Carolina women's soccer kicked off the 2013 campaign on Aug 7th with their first preseason practice of 2013.

The Catamounts return 20 players from the 2012 squad, including five seniors and 10 juniors. The Cats also welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#27 Taylor Wood


Class:  Freshman
Hometown:  Raleigh, N.C.
High School:  Sanderson HS
Height:  5-7
Position:  D/M
Club Team:  94 CASL Elite Ladies



High School: Varsity team 4 yrs, 3 yrs Academic All Conference.

Club Soccer: 2009 NCYSA State Cup Finalist, Lake Norman Tournament Finalist, Matt Helms Memorial Tournament Finalist, 2010 Lake Norman Tournament Champions, 2012 NCYSA State Cup Finalist, 2011 95 ODP Team.

Personal: Daughter of Emmet Wood Sr.and Lynne Wood ... Has one brother, Emmet Jr. ... Lewis Landon (grandfather) played tennis at Penn State ... Taylor has been a gymnast for 10 years and placed second in state meet in 2009 and 2010 and was a Region Team member.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Michaela Kissell-Eddins named women's Tennis Coach


Michaela Kissell-Eddins, one of the top collegiate players in the country from 2007-11,was named the head tennis coach at Western Carolina today by Athletic Director Randy Eaton,  effective immediately.

Kissell-Eddins spent the past season at Pitt as the interim head coach for Pitt in 2012-13. The Panthers went 10-12 overall and 1-3 in Big East conference play.

She lead Pitt to their first win over Rutgers, and her team's four match win streak was the longest winning streak since the 2007-08 season. In postseason play, the Panthers reached the quarterfinals in the Big East Tournament for the first time in program history.

Kissell-Eddins finished with a combined singles and doubles record of 110-41 for the Marshall Herd as a collegate player, which ranks her fourth in career-winning percentage (.733). Kissell-Eddins played No. 1 in both singles and doubled at Marshall, and made the NCAA Tournament as a junior and a senior in both singles and doubles.


Join the conversation by leaving a comment below

WCU's Enrollment tops 10,000

WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher making the announcement
Enrollment at Western Carolina University has topped 10,000 students for the first time in the institution’s history, a milestone reached in large part because of an increase of five percentage points in the freshman retention rate to nearly 79 percent.

Western Carolina’s total enrollment for the fall 2013 semester is 10,106, a 5 percent increase over last year’s tally of 9,608 students.

The university’s freshman retention rate – the percentage of first-time, full-time freshman students who return for their sophomore year – is 78.7 percent this year, compared to last fall’s retention rate of 73.7 percent. 

WCU Chancellor David O. Belcher announced the enrollment figures during a special event and reception held at the Central Plaza area on campus Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Enrollment figures are up across the board, with increases in the numbers of first-time freshmen, undergraduate transfers, graduate students, distance education students and students taking classes at the university’s instructional site at Biltmore Park, Belcher said.




Courtesy WCU Media Relations

SoCon Weekly Football Teleconference

Coach Mark Speir on the SoCon Weekly Football Teleconference.



Click here to play the teleconference






Join the conversation by leaving a comment below

Special Announcement


Soccer - #26 Taylor Webb

Western Carolina women's soccer kicked off the 2013 campaign on Aug 7th with their first preseason practice of 2013.

The Catamounts return 20 players from the 2012 squad, including five seniors and 10 juniors. The Cats also welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#26 Taylor Webb


Class: Freshman
Hometown: Monroe, N.C.
High School: Sun Valley HS
Height: 5-4 Position: D
Club Team: Charlotte Soccer Academy ECNL




High School: Her sophomore year received coaches award ... Junior year named all-conference, all-Region and Team MVP ... Senior year named defensive MVP, all-conference and all-region ... Sun Valley won the conference championship her junior year and went 44-27-6 over her career.

Club Team: Concorde Fire Challenge Champions in 2010 ... Norcross Nike Cup Finalist in 2010 and champions in 2012 ... Adidas Cup Champions in 2013.

Personal: Daughter of Mike and Dee Webb ... Has one sister, Casey.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Monday, September 2, 2013

Soccer - #25 Haven Leland

Western Carolina women's soccer kicked off the 2013 campaign on Aug 7th with their first preseason practice of 2013.

The Catamounts return 20 players from the 2012 squad, including five seniors and 10 juniors. The Cats also welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#25 Haven Leland


Class: Freshman
Hometown: Abingdon, Va.
High School: Abingdon HS
Height: 5-10
Position: M/D
Club Team: FC Alliance 95 Black



High School: Only played Freshman year in high school, was named 1st team all district, 1st team all region, Honorable Mention All State for Southwest Dist VA.

Club Soccer: 2011 TN State Champions, 2012 TN State Runner- Up, 2012 Las Vegas Players Showcase Champions, 2013 Disney Soccer Showcase Champions, TN State ODP 4 yrs, VA ODP 1 year, Region III Pool Player. s Personal: Daughter of David and Melinda Leland ... Has two sisters, Taylor and Macie ... Coy Craft cousin is on US U-15 boys national team and FC Dallas Academy Team ... Mother, father, and sister were collegiate athletes.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations

Sunday, September 1, 2013

#22 Mercedes Ducker

Western Carolina women's soccer kicked off the 2013 campaign on Aug 7th with their first preseason practice of 2013.

The Catamounts return 20 players from the 2012 squad, including five seniors and 10 juniors. The Cats also welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, nine freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

Today we'll highlight another Catamount freshman

#22 Mercedes Ducker


Class: Freshman
Hometown: Arden, NC
High School: TC Roberson HS
Height: 5-5
Position: F/M
Club Team: Carolina Elite Soccer Academy



High School: Has scored 72 goals and 29 assists going into her Senior season, As a Freshman named Offensive MVP, PACIS All Conference, Sophomore year named Offensive MVP, PACIS All Conference, NCISAA All State Player, Junior year named MAC All Conference, NCSCA All Region, 2012 Conference Champions.

Club Soccer: U14 NC State Champions as a member of the Greensboro Twisters, USYS U17 Region III Premier League East Champions (CESA), USYS U17 United States Southern Regional Champions (CESA), South Carolina State Champions 2012 (CESA), last four years in club soccer has 43 goals and 27 assists, ODP U11 - U15.

Personal: Daughter of Terry and Rebecca Ducker has one sister, Emme ... First family member to play college soccer ... Speaks conversational French.

Courtesy WCU Athletics Media Relations