ATHENS, Ga. – The Chattanooa Mocs volleyball team found itself winless Saturday evening with losses to College of Charleston and Belmont on the final day of the Bulldog Invitational.
The Mocs took College of Charleston to five set Saturday morning, falling 3-2 to the Cougars. CofC improved to 3-3 while UTC fell to 1-5 with the loss (25-18, 25-27, 22-15, 25-22, 11-15).
Chattanooga had three register double-digit kills. For the third set in a row, Kristy Wieser (Lincoln, Neb.) posted the team's best with 17 kills, while Sarah Batterton (Colbert, Wash.) and Allie Davenport (Tyrone, Ga.) followed up with 12 and 11, respectively. Wieser also added 10 digs to her day's total.
Catherine Chason, with 16, (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Brianna Guzinski, 15, (Jacksonville, Ga.) were Chattanooga's dig leaders. Nicole Sumida (Hixson, Tenn.) led the Mocs with six assisted blocks and two solo blocks.
There were a total of 12 lead changes and 23 tied scores in the match. The second set turned into a nail-biter as the two teams were all knotted up at 22-22. Back-to-back kills from Batterton and Julimar Alvarado (San Juan, Puerto Rico) pushed the score to 25-24 in favor of the Mocs, but the Cougars went on a three-point run to claim the middle frame.
The Mocs then fell 3-0 (13-25, 23-25, 14-25) to Belmont to close out the Athens, Ga., tournament. The Bruins were able to limit UTC offensively, holding it to 25 total kills and a .072 hitting percentage. Belmont only allowed 34 points.
Wieser was once again the kills leader, this time with seven, and Davenport registered five. Wieser also led the defense with 13 digs while Chason finished with 10. Sumida and Batterton both came up with two blocks, as well.
Chattanooga's best chance came again in the second set as the score was tied 20-20. Batterton gave UTC a one-point lead, 21-20, and the Bruins tied the score 21-21. The lead swapped once more before the set came to a 23-23 tie, but a service error and two attacking errors gave Belmont the set win.
“It was a tale of two stories today,” Head Coach Travis Filar said. “I thought we played really well against College of Charleston and won the statistical battle, but came out flat and very undisciplined against Belmont. We just have to regroup and get ready for our home tournament.”
The Mocs return to Chattanooga Friday to host the Chattanooga Classic. UTC is set to play three matches over the two-day invitational. Mississippi Valley State, Wright State and Murray State are set to visit the Scenic City for the tournament.
