Surpassing a season-best was freshman outside Kasey Talley (Boiling Springs, S.C.) with six kills in a contest that saw 24 ties and nine lead changes.

Chattanooga recorded a match-high 64 digs led by junior libero Paula Passmore (Merritt Island, Fla.) with 13 digs, while three Mocs in freshman defensive specialist Melissa Green (Boca Raton, Fla.), junior outside Heather Parman (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Talley each notched eight digs. Freshman outside Jessi Blackstock (Killen, Ala.) and Kuroski added to the stingy defensive effort with five each.

The battle at the net was dominated by Mercer, who blocked down 13 attacks contributing to the Mocs 28 mistakes on the night. Mercer was paced by Jamie Duffy with nine kills, while Charlotte Harris dug up 15 attacks with Amiee Frutchey adding 14.

During the first set, the teams played to 11 ties, but the only lead change occurred following the first point of the match a kill by Blackstock. Mercer used an 8-2 run to end the frame, 25-20, after the set was knotted at 18-all. A major difference in the frame was the Bears blocking down seven of the Mocs attacks, thereby forcing nine mistakes.

The second stanza began with Chattanooga scoring on the first four rallies aided by kills from Teter, Camacho and Kuroski, but Mercer came back to tie it at five.

Following a Mercer timeout with the Mocs leading 14-12, the Bears took control of the set rattling off five-straight points and would take a 2-0 advantage in the match heading into the intermission with a 25-19 victory. Both teams registered 14 kills during the frame with Kuroski totaling five, but Chattanooga once again was its own enemy committing seven errors.

Two kills by Teter provided Chattanooga with a 3-0 lead early in the third set, but the Bears fought back to take a 5-3 advantage and eventually stretch it to 15-10. The Mocs then used a 14-6 run to retake the lead and serve for set point at 24-21.

Mercer continued to fight back using just one kill by capitalizing on mistakes to tie the frame up at 24-all. Chattanooga would get a side out and another set point at 25-24 before the Bears finished the match with a 27-25 win.

"We are going into a conference match this weekend," said Filar. "If we are not ready and prepared to fight, then we have to really look in the mirror and check ourselves because these are the matches that count for us. We still have 14 conference matches and a lot of volleyball to play."

The Mocs resume Southern Conference play on Saturday with a 7 p.m. match at Wofford before heading to Samford on Wednesday night for an 8 p.m. match to kick off the Southern Rail Rivalry. Chattanooga returns to Maclellan Gym on Oct. 8-9 hosting UNCG and Elon at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.