CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team gets set to welcome Samford and Mercer this weekend in Maclellan Gymnasium for Southern Conference play during Homecoming weekend.
 
The Mocs and Bulldogs, a rematch of the 2016 SoCon Championship match, will meet on Friday at 6 p.m. UTC and Mercer will square-off on Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission is FREE and all fans in attendance on Saturday will receive coupon vouchers for half-off Chattanooga football general admission tickets for the Mocs Homecoming game against Furman at 4 p.m. at Finley Stadium.
 
Chattanooga kicked-off their South Carolina road trip off last weekend with a 3-0 (25-17, 29-27, 25-22) sweep over The Citadel on Friday in Charleston before falling on Saturday in Greenville to Furman, 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-22). With the split, the Mocs move to 9-9 overall and 2-2 in Southern Conference action.
 
Entering this weekend, five SoCon members (WOF, UNCG, UTC, MER, ETSU) are knotted up with 2-2 records while Furman (4-0) and Samford (3-1) sit atop the standings.
 
Defensive specialist/libero Megan Kaufman was named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for her play during September. The freshman ranks seventh in NCAA DI with 379 digs and a 6.02 digs per set average, both top marks among all freshmen.
 
Offensively, Ally Ford continues her stellar play as she ranks 25^th in NCAA DI with 262 kills while sitting 38^th with a 4.16 kills per set average. Lauren Greenspoon continues to direct the offense as she leads all Southern Conference players with a 10.57 assists per set average.
 
Full scouting previews, match information & more can be found below. Check out this week's note packet HERE.
 
Scouting – Samford (8-10, 3-1 SoCon)
Series Record: 27-13, Samford
Last Meeting: L, 1-3 (Nov. 23, 2016) – SoCon Championship – Birmingham, Ala.
Match Time: Friday, 6:00 p.m.
Watch Live: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: GoMocs.com
 
After suffering a SoCon opening sweep at home to The Citadel, Samford has rebounded with three-straight conference wins to amass a 3-1 record. The Bulldogs defeated Wofford at home while downing Western Carolina and UNCG on the road last weekend.
 
Sophomore Shayla Phillip ranks third in the SoCon with a .310 hitting percentage while junior Krista Boesing sits third with a 4.17 kills per set average. Boesing's 288 total kills are most in the conference.
 
Scouting – Mercer (7-9, 2-2 SoCon)* as of 10/5
Series Record: 16-9, Chattanooga
Last Meeting: W, 3-1 (Nov. 21, 2016) – SoCon Quarterfinals – Birmingham, Ala.
Match Time: Saturday, 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats: GoMocs.com
 
The Bears are coming off a non-conference win over Savannah State on Wednesday. Mercer has claimed SoCon wins against The Citadel and Western Carolina while falling to Wofford and UNCG to accumulate a 2-2 record. They'll face ETSU in Johnson City on Friday before heading to Chattanooga.
 
Junior Paige Alsten leads the SoCon with a .388 hitting percentage, 222 kills on 425 total attacks. Alsten also leads the league with 64.0 total blocks and a 1.05 blocks per set average.