Saturday, August 28
Davidson, NC
5:00 PM
Davidson College
2-0,0-0Atlantic 10
3
vs
1
Western Carolina
0-2,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
4
F
Western Caro.
27
25
17
23
1
Davidson
29
23
25
25
3
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Takes Down Western Carolina, Wins 2021 Wildcat Classic
8/28/2021 7:49:00 PM | Volleyball
PHOTO GALLERY
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- With a 3-1 victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts on Saturday evening, the Davidson volleyball team improved to 2-0 on the young season and clinched the 2021 Wildcat Classic title.
Senior Hattie Rodriguez was named the tournament's MVP, after combining for 38 kills, 4.5 points per set and a .276 attacking percentage on the weekend. Bella Brady and Sola Omonije were also named to the All-Tournament Team, as the sophomore libero totaled 49 digs and middle blocker Omonije tallied a .432 attack percentage and eight total blocks.
Xuan Nguyen and Jessie Doyal co-anchored the Davidson offense for the second straight night, as Nguyen led the way with 26 assists and Doyal was right behind with 23 dishes of her own. The setting duo paced the 'Cats to hit .278 as a team, marking the best offensive performance for the program since the team's season opener last spring, against Jacksonville on Jan. 22, 2021 (.367).
Western Carolina played neck-and-neck with the Wildcats all night, stealing the second set from Davidson and forcing the 'Cats to win it in four.Â
Opening up the first set, which proved to be a back-and-forth affair, Davidson recorded 22 kills and four errors (.353) to the Catamounts' 18 kills and five errors (.295) that ultimately edged out the visitors in a 29-27 overtime set win. As the Catamounts stole set two, thanks to two lengthy service runs, the Wildcats' offense responded to close out the night with two more set victories.Â
In the third, Anela Davis tied the frame at three points apiece with a kill that allowed Brady to take the 'Cats on a four-point service run and grab a 7-3 lead. Although exchanging leads with the Catamounts twice more, a kill from Isabella Perry and a service ace from Sophia Hritz pushed the Wildcat advantage to 20-14. Omonije and rookie Isabel Decker each added a kill to the stat sheet that put the game out of reach for Western Carolina, as Davidson needed just one more set win to remain undefeated in the early season.
The Catamounts outhit the Wildcats .256-.205 in the fourth, but Davidson established an early 16-11 lead thanks to back-to-back kills from All-Tournament duo, Rodriguez and Omonije. The Catamounts took back a 20-19 lead late, after three kills and two blocks at the net, but it would be the Wildcats who came out victorious thanks to two service errors from WCU and two kills from Malia Kay and Davis to close out the night, 25-23.
Davidson will return to play on the road next weekend, at the North Florida Invitational, kicking things off with a 10 a.m. match up against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 4.Â
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DAVIDSON, N.C. -- With a 3-1 victory over the Western Carolina Catamounts on Saturday evening, the Davidson volleyball team improved to 2-0 on the young season and clinched the 2021 Wildcat Classic title.
Senior Hattie Rodriguez was named the tournament's MVP, after combining for 38 kills, 4.5 points per set and a .276 attacking percentage on the weekend. Bella Brady and Sola Omonije were also named to the All-Tournament Team, as the sophomore libero totaled 49 digs and middle blocker Omonije tallied a .432 attack percentage and eight total blocks.
Xuan Nguyen and Jessie Doyal co-anchored the Davidson offense for the second straight night, as Nguyen led the way with 26 assists and Doyal was right behind with 23 dishes of her own. The setting duo paced the 'Cats to hit .278 as a team, marking the best offensive performance for the program since the team's season opener last spring, against Jacksonville on Jan. 22, 2021 (.367).
Western Carolina played neck-and-neck with the Wildcats all night, stealing the second set from Davidson and forcing the 'Cats to win it in four.Â
Opening up the first set, which proved to be a back-and-forth affair, Davidson recorded 22 kills and four errors (.353) to the Catamounts' 18 kills and five errors (.295) that ultimately edged out the visitors in a 29-27 overtime set win. As the Catamounts stole set two, thanks to two lengthy service runs, the Wildcats' offense responded to close out the night with two more set victories.Â
It's a battle for set two but the 'Cats are ?????????????? their way through a 19-17 lead.
— Davidson Volleyball (@DavidsonVB) August 28, 2021
Timeout for the Catamounts. pic.twitter.com/z8geWEbJf9
In the third, Anela Davis tied the frame at three points apiece with a kill that allowed Brady to take the 'Cats on a four-point service run and grab a 7-3 lead. Although exchanging leads with the Catamounts twice more, a kill from Isabella Perry and a service ace from Sophia Hritz pushed the Wildcat advantage to 20-14. Omonije and rookie Isabel Decker each added a kill to the stat sheet that put the game out of reach for Western Carolina, as Davidson needed just one more set win to remain undefeated in the early season.
The Catamounts outhit the Wildcats .256-.205 in the fourth, but Davidson established an early 16-11 lead thanks to back-to-back kills from All-Tournament duo, Rodriguez and Omonije. The Catamounts took back a 20-19 lead late, after three kills and two blocks at the net, but it would be the Wildcats who came out victorious thanks to two service errors from WCU and two kills from Malia Kay and Davis to close out the night, 25-23.
MALIA KAYYYYYY!
— Davidson Volleyball (@DavidsonVB) August 28, 2021
The 'Cats get a quick side out of the break and push a two-point lead.
Timeout, WCU. Davidson up 22-20. pic.twitter.com/XyInCWFKgg
Davidson will return to play on the road next weekend, at the North Florida Invitational, kicking things off with a 10 a.m. match up against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 4.Â
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Team Stats
WCU
DC
Kills
61
69
Errors
20
17
Attempts
179
187
Hitting %
.229
.278
Points
77
83
Assists
54
60
Aces
6
6
Blocks
10
8
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
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