CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - It took the UTC Volleyball team on three sets to tally its first win of the season, as the Lady Mocs knocked off Alabama A&M, in its first game of the Country Inn & Suites Challenge. Chattanooga took the match in straight sets, 25-12, 25-15, and 28-26, and is now 1-3 on the year, thanks to an offense that had a season-high 38 kills.
Junior Ashley Yeager set the pace for the Lady Mocs with a match-high 13 kills, while freshmen Ellie Kuhn recorded a career high eight kills, and had a .429 hitting percentage. The San Antonio, Texas native also had three aces, which led both teams. Lara Newberry led all players with 17 digs, and setter Cassie Conner had a match-high 29 assists.
The Lady Mocs set the tone early in set one, with seven straight points, after the Lady Mocs trailed 1-0. The 1-0 lead with be the only one for the Bulldogs, as the Lady Mocs took the opening frame 25-12. Chattanooga was paced by Yeager, Kuhn, and Jessica Scott, who each recorded at least three kills. Each member of the trio also posted hitting percentages of .667 or greater. Junior Cassie Conner led the way with 10 assists, and both Conner and Lara Newberry paced the team's defense with six digs apiece.
While the offense stole the show in the first set, it was the UTC defense that dominated in game two. The Lady Mocs held Alabama A&M to a -.103 hitting percentage, easily the lowest it has held an opponent all season, as UTC took the second set 25-15. Newberry led the way defensively for Chattanooga with eight digs, five more than any other player in the set. On offense, Scott and Yeager each posted three kills, which led both teams.
After leading the match 2-0, the Lady Mocs came out in the third set very slow. Chattanooga found itself down 11-2 after a flurry of Bulldog points. In what was the worst offensive set on the match for the Lady Mocs, UTC slowly began to creep closer to A&M. The Lady Mocs would go on scoring runs of five, six, and five, to finally nod the set up a 20-apiece. Alabama A&M wouldn't stand pat though, as the Bulldogs quickly went on a run of their own to go up 23-20. The tenacious Lady Mocs would soon tie the game back up though with a kill from Scott and two from Yeager. After the Bulldogs went to set point following a UTC service error, the Lady Mocs once again battle back with a kill from Kuhn. Both teams would then exchange two points apiece, before the Lady Mocs put A&M away thanks to two Bulldog errors. That gave Chattanooga the set, 28-26, and the Lady Mocs, its first victory of the season.
In the first game of the Country Inn & Suites Challenge, Central Michigan took care of South Alabama in four sets, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, and 25-17. Central Michigan's Whitney Evers led all players with 15 kills, while Hristina Markova led the Jaguars with 14. The Chippewas' libero, Alexis Lonneman had a match-high 15 digs to give the Jaguars its first loss of the season. With the win, CMU improves to 3-1, and South Alabama is now 2-1.
Day two of the tournament will begin at 10 a.m. as Central Michigan will take on Alabama A&M. The Lady Mocs will then take the court as they play host to South Alabama at noon. At 2 p.m., South Alabama will play Alabama A&M, and UTC will wrap up the tournament with a 4 p.m. game against Central Michigan. Admission is free for all games of the tournament.
