MOREHEAD, Ky. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga opened its season with a 3-1 victory against East Tennessee State, 3-1 (25-22, 25-14, 23-25, 25-20) at the Comfort Inn & Suites Volleyball Classic. Freshman outside hitter Kirsten Beasley recorded her first collegiate double-double posting a match-high 15 kills and 10 digs. The Lady Mocs return action later today at 7 p.m. when they face host Morehead State.
The win was the first for the Lady Mocs in the opening match of a season, since defeating Jackson State 3-0 to begin the 2001 campaign. Since then, Chattanooga has faced stiff competition to begin the season including tangling with Tennessee, South Florida and Depaul.
"I think it was great that we got a win in the first match since 2001," said head coach Lisa Rhodes. "It is a nice way to start out with such a young team. While it was not always pretty, we were able to find a way to win. I am really proud of the team because they came back in the third set before dropping it. I think we have an exciting future."
The Lady Mocs' offense was also paced by sophomore Ellie Kuhn with 12 kills and five total blocks, two of which were block solos. Sophomore Laura Brock recorded 10 kills with six of them coming in the decisive fourth game. Leading Chattanooga with a .500 attacking percentage was junior Courtney Barnes who posted eight kills.
Senior Cassie Conner helped the Chattanooga offense by recording 41 assists and two aces. While freshman libero Paula Passmore recorded a match-high and personal best 33 digs aiding the defense and keeping rallies alive.
"Kirsten for a freshman played really strong," said Rhodes. "It will be very exciting to see how she is going to develop throughout the season. Laura (Brock) started a little shaky and scared, but came out in the fourth set really strong and was a big key to that win. I was really pleased with Ellie's performance. She had a nice match today."
Three players - Beasley, Brock and Paula Passmore - made their Chattanooga debut starting in the opening contest.
During the first, a young Chattanooga squad attacked the net and kept the lead away from the Bucs recording a 25-22 win. After taking the lead, the Lady Mocs continued to dominate posting a .290 attacking percentage as a team in the second set, 25-14.
In the third set, ETSU was looking to close out the match with a 22-17, but the Lady Mocs almost made a dramatic comeback when Beasley came to the service line. Chattanooga scored five-straight points to tie the match up at 22 all, but its effort was not enough as the Bucs sent the match to a fourth set with a 25-23 win.
After learning from its mistake by letting ETSU back into the match, the Lady Mocs shut the door with a team attacking percentage of .412 and posting 17 kills en route to clinching the match, 25-20.
Tonight at 7 p.m. the Lady Mocs return to the court battling host Morehead State at the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational. Chattanooga completes the two-day tournament on Saturday against James Madison at 11:30 a.m.
UTC returns home on Sept. 11 for the Country Inn and Suites Invitational against Austin Peay at 7:30 p.m. in Maclellan Gym. SIU-Edwardsville and Loyola (Ill.) will also be competing in the event that concludes Sept. 12.
Chattanooga def. East Tennessee St. 25-22,25-14,23-25,25-20
East Tennessee St. (0-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - RYAN, Erin 10-0-1;
COGBURN, Whitney 8-0-4; YOUELL, Amanda 8-2-2; BARBER, McKayla 8-1-2;
BAUFIELD, Lauren 5-2-2; PROVCHY, Kristan 5-0-5; LONG, Alysa 3-0-0;
HOWE, Dani 0-3-0; NEICE, Jen 0-1-0; Totals 47-9-10.0. (Assists) -
YOUELL, Amanda 29. (Dig leaders) - HOWE, Dani 19; NEICE, Jen 12;
BAUFIELD, Lauren 10; YOUELL, Amanda 9
Chattanooga (1-0) (Kills-aces-blocks) - BEASLEY, Kirsten 15-2-2; KUHN,
Ellie 12-0-5; BROCK, Laura 10-2-0; SCOTT, Jessica 8-1-2; BARNES,
Courtney 8-0-3; HARVILLE, Stephanie 0-0-1; CONNER, Cassie 0-2-0;
PASSMORE, Paula 0-1-0; Totals 53-8-8.0. (Assists) - CONNER, Cassie 41.
(Dig leaders) - PASSMORE, Paula 33; SCOTT, Jessica 11; BEASLEY,
Kirsten 10
Site: Morehead, Ky. (Wetherby)
Date: Aug 28, 2009 Attend: 76 Time: 1:44
Referees: Ken Gilkey, Steven Shepherd
Season opener for both teams
Comfort Inn & Suites Volleyball Classic Match #2
