Oct. 4, 2004

Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Department of Athletics announced Adam Puett (men's cross country) and Kellyn Thaut (volleyball) have been named Arby's/Catamount Athletes of the Month for September.

Puett (Huntsville, Ala.) was named Southern Conference Runner of the Week after each of the Catamounts' two events during September. First, the junior won the individual title and helped the Catamounts win the team title at the 19th Annual WCU/Papa's Pizza Invitational on September 3. Puett finished the 5k course with a time of 15:39, 30 seconds ahead of second place Eric Albrecht of Furman (16:10). The following week, Puett was named SoCon Runner of the Week after placing fourth at the Clemson Invitational on Sept. 18. Puett finished the 8k course with a time of 25:22.50 and was the only competitor not from Clemson to finish among the top eight.

Thaut (Hastings, Neb.) tallied five double-doubles during the month of September. She was named to the All-Tournament team at the Campbell Volleyball Classic (Sept. 10-11). At the event, which Western won with victories over Wofford, Campbell and UNC Asheville, Thaut had double-doubles in each match and led all players with 61 kills in the event, while adding 43 digs. As the month closed, the sophomore posted 20 kills with 13 digs in a win at Chattanooga, 30 kills and 16 digs at East Tennessee State and 20 kills in a win at Gardner-Web. Thaut is the first Catamount to have 30 kills in a match since Christy Attebery accomplished the feat in 2000.

The cross country team will travel to Greenville, S.C., to compete in the Furman Invitational this Saturday (Oct. 9). The Catamount volleyball team will travel to Boone, N.C., to face SoCon rival Appalachian State Tuesday (Oct. 5) at 7 pm.