DURHAM, N.C. – Wofford senior Catie Cronister recorded the first known triple-double in Terrier history on Friday, totaling 20 kills, 12 digs and 11 assists in the opening match of the Duke Invitational.
Despite Cronister's dominant effort, Wofford fell to Duke in four sets (24-26, 25-23, 26-28, 18-25). The program's all-time leader in kills would add 16 digs, seven assists and three kills in Wofford's second match of the day against Appalachian State (L, 25-23, 25-20, 25-19). The Terriers, who play another doubleheader on Saturday, now sit at 0-5 on the season.
The first set was a close one, with the Terriers being edged out 26-24 by the Blue Devils. In the second, it was Wofford that claimed the two-point victory, winning set two 25-23. The Terriers took the momentum into the third, jumping ahead 4-0 courtesy of an ace from Kennedy Smith. Duke responded, however, taking the next five points. The two teams traded points until Cronister knotted the set at 23-23 with her 14th kill of the match. After falling behind a point, an error and a Cronister kill put the Terriers ahead 26-25, but a timeout and three-point rally gave Duke set three. The fourth set was neck-and-neck until the Blue Devils reeled off eight in a row to take a 19-12 lead, salting away the fourth set 25-18.
Wofford and Appalachian State went point-for-point to open up the first set, but the Mountaineers took four of the last five points to take the opener 25-23. The second set began like the first, as Wofford kept it close late into the set. With Appalachian State looking to close out the set, Wofford cut into the deficit but ran out of time, falling by five. Looking to extend the match, the Terriers jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the third, but the Mountaineers took over, slowly pulling away before closing out the match via a kill.
Wofford will have a quick turnaround, opening up another doubleheader at noon, facing UNC Wilmington before capping off the tournament at North Carolina Central at 5 p.m.
