CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga extended its season-long win streak to three with a 3-0 (25-22,
25-18, 25-21) victory over The Citadel. Senior Courtney Barnes (Franklin,
Tenn.) and junior Ellie Kuhn (San Antonio, Texas) proved the offense ran
through the middle as they totaled 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
“It was not necessarily a pretty win, but we found away to take
the match in three,” said head coach Lisa Rhodes. “I am really proud of the girls
for coming back to win the third set.”
Chattanooga (8-15, 3-4 SoCon) also had some help from its
outside hitters as sophomore Heather Parman (Ooltewah, Tenn.) recorded seven
kills, while fellow classmate Meagan Ernd (Munster, Ind.) added three. Senior
right side Jessica Scott (Lawrence, Kan.) notched four during the match.
Distributing the ball on the attack was senior Bailee
Chastain (Chattanooga, Tenn.) compiling a match-high 34 assists.
The Lady Mocs continued their fantastic defensive play
recording 60 digs during the match led by a match-high by sophomore libero
Paula Passmore (Merritt Island, Fla.) with 15. The full team effort in digging
up attacks was assisted by Parman with 10, sophomore Kirsten Beasley (Amarilo,
Texas) with nine, Chastain with eight and Scott with six.
The Citadel was led offensively by Blaine McAllister,
Jessica Mass and Kaona Mercer with nine kills apiece, while Tatum Jestila and
Kathryn Johnston each posted 14 digs.
Chattanooga paced the match in numerous categories that included
posting 43 kills, 41 assist and 8.5 blocks. Both teams registered 60 digs
during the contest.
The first set went back and forth between the two teams as
the score showed Chattanooga in the lead at 20-19. The Lady Mocs used kills
from Scott and Ernd and a block from Kuhn and Scott to take a three-point lead
forcing a Bulldog timemout. Barnes notched a kills and a mistake from The Citadel
closed the set, 25-22.
“In times that we needed a big block to gain momentum,” said
Rhodes. “Ellie [Kuhn] came up with a big play for us. I was really happy with her play
this afternoon.”
Through the first 14 points, the teams traded rallies as the
score was knotted at seven. Two kills by Parman and one by Scott provided
Chattanooga with a 11-3 advantage. The Bulldogs would battle back to within
one, 13-11, on a kill by Mercer, but Chattanooga shut the door and finished the
frame on a 12-7 run capped on a kill by Kuhn.
Again, the third set started similar to the first two as the
teams battled it out for the first eight points before The Citadel rallied to a
12-6 advantage. The Bulldogs would stretch its lead to 16-8 before the Lady
Mocs started a comeback with consecutive blocks from Chasatin/Kuhn and Kuhn/Scott.
With the score at 20-14, Chattanooga recorded an 11-point
rally at a crucial time, which was biggest run for the team this season. The
Lady Mocs swung momentum and took a commanding 24-20 advantage on three kills
by Barnes and two blocks from the senior middle blocker along with kills by
Ernd and the tough service from Scott. Barnes capped the match on a kill by
Barnes, 25-21, and its third-straight SoCon victory.
Chattanooga continues its Charleston swing on Sunday at 2
p.m. against the College of Charleston. The Lady Mocs return home for the next
two weekends at Maclellan Gym and host Furman and Wofford on Oct. 23-24 with
both matches beginning at 2 p.m.
