PHOENIX, AZ.-Despite a late rally in the third set, the Villanova Wildcats suffered a 3-0 loss to the Western Carolina Catamounts. The Wildcats fall to 3-2 while the Catamounts improve to 2-3.

"We struggled today," Villanova Volleyball Head Coach Josh Steinbach said. "We've got some things to figure out and try in order to be better tomorrow. I like this group, but this was a performance we will have to get over."

Both teams traded points to begin the first set until the Catamounts began to pull away with a 6-0 run and extended their lead to 13-6. Villanova continued to chase the Catamounts down and reached within three but Western Carolina never relinquished their lead in a 25-17 set win. The Catamounts recorded a .306 hitting percentage throughout the first set.

Momentum continued to be on Western Carolina's side when they began the second set with a 5-0 run including a pair of kills from Julia Gardon. The lead never changed throughout the second set and the Catamounts won the second set, 25-15. Through two sets, Riley Homer led Villanova with eight kills and the duo of Clare Delaplane and Averi Salvador combined for 22 digs.

Down 2-0, the Wildcats' backs were against the wall. Villanova battled with Western Carolina and when the Wildcats were down 17-12, Villanova rallied with a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to a single point. The Catamounts countered with a 4-1 run to lead 21-17. Later in the set, the Wildcats trailed 23-19 but bounced back with back-to-back-to-back kills from Kiera Booth to trim the deficit to 23-22. Despite the late rally, Western Carolina hammered two kills to win the third set, 25-22, and the match. As a team, the Wildcats recorded 18 kills in the third set and hit at a .313 clip.

Riley Homer led the Wildcats with 13 kills, her fourth-straight double-digit effort. Belle Morgan led the team with 22 assists and Averi Salvador matched her season-high 17 assists Saturday night. Clare Delaplane recorded a season-high 12 digs against the Catamounts.The Wildcats will round out their weekend slate with a match against tournament host Grand Canyon University Sunday at 5:00 p.m.