CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – College of Charleston defeated Western Carolina in four sets (25-17, 25-23, 27-29 and 25-20) to earn its first victory of the season, Friday afternoon at the Carolina Classic in Carmichael Arena.
 
The Cougars were paced by Emily Banitt, who tied her career high with 19 kills en route to her 15th career double-double (19 kills, 11 digs.) Defensively, Olivia Angell collected a game-high 28 digs.
 
WHEN THE GAME WAS DECIDED:

• After losing the third set, Charleston came out of the gates hot in set four, going out in front 10-3 and never looking back.

 
CRITICAL POINTS AGAINST WESTERN CAROLINA:

• Charleston opened the match with an 8-0 run, with five of those points coming from kills before finishing off the set with back-to-back blocks.
• The trio of Olivia Angell, Tynley Smeltzer and Cole Crews paced the backline defensively, posting 28 digs, nine digs and eight digs, respectively, while holding Western Carolina to a .052 attack percentage.
• Hannah Scott had a game-high 37 assists to go along with eight kills, eight digs, five block assists, one solo block and a .429 attack percentage.
• Charleston had four players record at least five block assists; Caitlyn Callahan, Emily Dykes, Allie Holland and Scott. Anna Smith recorded three solo blocks and four block assists in the victory.
• The Cougars trailed by no more than three points throughout the entire match.

 
OF NOTE:

• Charleston improves to 24-10 in season openers since becoming Division I in 1991 and are now 12-6 under head coach Jason Kepner.
• The Cougars captured its 19th consecutive victory against Western Carolina Friday and improve its record against the Catamounts to 21-8.
• The Cougars recorded 20 total blocks, the most in a match since CofC had 23 on Oct. 23, 2010, at Elon
• Freshman Cole Crews made her collegiate debut, starting for The College. Crews recorded two assists and eight digs in the four sets.
• Hannah Scott recorded 37 assists in the win, her third career 30-plus assist match.
• Angell, Banitt, Callahan, Dykes and Holland all made their Charleston debuts.

 
UP NEXT:
CofC continues play at the Carolina Classic Saturday when it faces host North Carolina on ACC Network Extra. Opening serve from Carmichael Arena is set for 6 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of Charleston volleyball, follow us on Facebook (/cofcvolleyball), X (@CofCVolleyball) and Instagram (@cofcvolleyball).