Sophomore libero Destinee Dorsey recorded a match-best 22 digs as Western Carolina dropped a 3-0 decision at UNCG (25-10, 25-20, 25-22) in Southern Conference action on Wednesday night in Fleming Gym.
With the win, UNCG improves to 22-6 overall and 11-4 in league matches. WCU is 11-15 overall and 7-8.
Dorsey, the league leader in digs entering the night, surpassed the 20-dig mark for the 13th time this season. Offensively, senior Merry Gebel had a team-best eight kills while classmate Sydney Carlson recorded 25 assists.
Kayla White led UNCG with a double-double, finishing with 16 kills and 15 digs. Gabriela McHugh dished out 37 assists while Jenna Wiggs had 22 digs.
UNCG opened the first set on a 5-1 run before the Catamounts closed within three, 8-5, on a Bailey Hartsough kill. After a Spartan error made the score 12-7, UNCG went on a 6-0 run to take control of the set in winning the opener.
A kill by MaKenzie White gave the Catamounts a 6-4 lead early in the second set. Following a Breen service ace that put the Spartans ahead 9-7, the Catamounts evened the set at 12 thanks to a Gebel kill. UNCG tallied the next three points heading into the media timeout. WCU pulled within two points on three separate occasions but got no closer down the stretch.
Trailing 10-7 in the third set, WCU used a block by Johnna Robinson and Hartsough to tie the frame at 12. UNCG scored the next three points and took a 24-19 lead thanks to a block by White. The Catamounts fought back from match point, trimming the deficit to 24-22 on a Hartsough kill before a White kill clinched the match for the Spartans.
WCU concludes the 2021 regular season on Friday in Charleston, S.C., visiting The Citadel at 6 p.m.