MILWAUKEE ? The UTC volleyball team took the court Saturday looking for its first victory of the season, but was not able to get it as the Lady Mocs fell to Marquette 3-0 in their first game of the day, with the Golden Eagles winning 25-11, 25-12, and 25-17. In the second game, UTC was matched up against the Houston Cougars. The Lady Mocs captured their first set of the season, but weren't able to knock of the Cougars, as Houston won 3-1. The Cougars won 25-13, 23-25, 25-3, and 25-17. With the losses, Chattanooga falls to 0-3 on the season.
In the first game, Jessica Scott led the Lady Mocs with seven kills in the match, while Marquette's Ashlee Fisher led all players with 18. Lara Newberry and Ashley Yeager both had 11 digs for UTC and Cassie Conner had a team-high 13 assists. As a team, the Lady Mocs had a hitting percentage of .059 and committed 17 errors. In game two, freshman Stephanie Harville led Chattanooga with nine kills, while Newberry had a team-high 12 digs for UTC. Cassie Conner was the team's leader in assits, with 15 in the second match of the day.
In game one, Marquette took the first set 25-11 and was led by Fisher, who had seven kills on only 11 attempts. As a team, the Golden Eagles had 15 kills on 34 attempts, which is a .412 hitting percentage. Scott led the Lady Mocs with three kills on six attempts, and Newberry led all players with five digs in the set. Throughout the beginning of the match both teams remained close. With Marquette only leading 8-6, Laura Nethery scored a kill to but the Lady Mocs within one. The Golden Eagles would then rattle off 11 straight points to give Marquette a substantial lead as they went on to take the opening set.
In the second frame, Marquette took advantage of seven UTC attack errors to claim the 25-12 victory. Marquette broke a 1-1 tie early on and never trailed again in the set. Three Lady Mocs led the team with two kills apiece while the Golden Eagles' Fisher led all players with five kills in the set. The Lady Mocs' Ashley Yeager led all players with five digs and Cassie Conner led Chattanooga with four assists.
In the third, and what would be the final, frame Marquette jumped out early to a 12-4 lead. The Lady Mocs tried to battle back but could only get within seven points, as the Golden Eagles ended the match, winning 25-17. Freshman Ellie Kuhn got her first career start on the afternoon and also recorded her first two aces.
In the Lady Mocs' second game, Houston took off with an efficient offensive attack, as the Cougars had 12 kills on 20 attacks to take the first frame 25-13. In her first career start, Stephanie Harville led UTC and tied for the match-lead with three kills. On the defensive side for the Lady Mocs, Lara Newberry led the team with 4 digs and Chattanooga had three players tied in assists with two apiece.
In the next set, Ashley Yeager recorded a team-high four kills and Aurore "Loo" Kullak had a set-high five digs as the Lady Mocs captured their first set of the season to tie the game at one. Freshmen Stephanie Harville and Ellie Kuhn continued their early season successes with two kills apiece. Early in the set both teams remained close. With both squads tied at nine, Houston's Kelsey King had a serving error and gave the Lady Mocs a 10-9 lead, one they would not relinquish. The Lady Mocs forced nine attack errors and committed only four to take the set 25-23, and tie the match at one-apiece.
The third set was dominated by the Cougars' high octane offense as Houston recorded 15 kills on just 28 attempts, in the 25-3 win. Houston scored the set's first six points and lead by as much as 22-1 in the frame. Lucy Charuk led the Cougars with six kills, while Justine Farmer and Ingrida Zauere each had four. Jessica Scott and Cassie Conner each recorded a kill for the Lady Mocs', and Newberry had four digs for UTC.
In the fourth set, Stephanie Harville had four kills for the Lady Mocs, which led the team, as did her .800 hitting percentage. The Lady Mocs could not hang with Houston's offensive firepower though as the Cougars had 17 kills on 32 attempts. Lara Newberry led the Lady Mocs with 12 digs.
Next up for the Lady Mocs will Alabama A&M on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Maclellan Gym, as UTC hosts the Comfort Inn & Suites Challenge. In the first game of the tournament, Central Michigan will play South Alabama.
