CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford volleyball team used a strong defensive effort to take down the Western Carolina Catamounts on Thursday night inside of the Liston B. Ramsey Center. Wofford improves to 10-10, 6-3, while Western Carolina drops to 6-14, 2-7.
 
It was a career night for Annemarie Rakoski as the senior paced the team's defensive efforts. Rakoski posted 12 blocks on the night – a new career high and the most in a single match for Wofford since Sarah Barham had 13 rejections in 2021. The 12 blocks for Rakoski are tied for the most in program history for a four-set match.
 
As a team, the Terriers totaled 18 blocks - the most in a four-set match since the team had 20 against Samford in 2023. Joining in on the fun was Natalie Arnold who assisted on seven blocks. Bradley Brown added six – three of which were solo. Ella Coleman, Chloe Smith and Emily Normand also assisted on blocks. Laney Klika closed the night with a team-high 19 digs. Chloe Smith recorded 15 digs to round out her double-double, while Taylor Pecht notched 13 to finish off her double-double as well.
 
Chloe Smith paced the team with 12 kills while Bradley Brown and Ella Coleman each had nine. The nine kills from Coleman were a new career high. Emily Normand had eight along with six apiece from Annemarie Rakoski and Natalie Arnold. Taylor Pecht and Maddy Frazier orchestrated the attacking efforts as Pecht totaled 21 assists and Frazier added 17. Frazier joined Laney Klika, Bradley Brown and Chloe Smith as four Terriers to record two service aces each.
 
The Terriers totaled 51 kills compared to 46 from Western Carolina. Wofford finished the night with 10 service aces to six from the Catamounts. Eighteen blocks from the Terriers tripled the number from Western Carolina.
 
Wofford took control early in set one, taking a 6-3 lead behind a kill from Ella Coleman. Western Carolina found its rhythm, however, scoring four-straight points to retake the lead, 7-6. Later in the set, the Terriers used four consecutive points of their own to build a comfortable 18-12 advantage. Despite the Catamounts cutting the deficit to 24-23, Wofford would take set one.
 
 Set two saw Wofford jump out to a 4-0 lead led by a big swing from Ella Coleman. The Catamounts got on the board after that, but Wofford would extend its lead to six points, 11-5. A late push saw the Catamounts come within two points, 19-17. The Terriers were able to hold off the comeback, however, taking set two 25-20.
 
The Terriers once again came out of the break strong, taking an 8-3 lead after a pair of aces from Maddy Frazier. Western Carolina would go on a 4-1 run to get things closer, but Wofford responded with four-straight to further the Catamount deficit to 14-8. With the Catamounts trailing 20-17 late into the third set, Western Carolina roared back to take set three 25-23.
 
Western Carolina gained control of set four to start, however, it did not last long as Wofford used a 10-2 run to gain a 17-9 advantage. The Catamounts gave their best effort, but Wofford stood tall in the final stanza. The Terriers would take set four 25-20 and the match 3-1 to earn the series sweep.
 
The Terriers will be back home on Saturday, October 25, at 6:00 PM against The Citadel. Wofford defeated The Citadel 3-0 in the previous matchup this season.