CHATTANOOGA --- With the regular season wrapped up, it's time for the Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team to take on the Southern Conference Tournament this weekend in Cullowhee, N.C., as the No. 6 seed, looking to claim an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Mocs will face No. 3 UNCG in the opening round on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ramsey Center on the campus of Western Carolina. Furman claimed the regular season title and will be the top seed while ETSU follows as the No. 2 seed. Wofford and Samford battle as the No. 4 and 5 teams, respectively, while Western Carolina (7), Mercer (8) and The Citadel (9) round out the seeding. (FULL BRACKET)
 
Chattanooga has had recent success in the SoCon tournament over the last two seasons, combining for a 4-2 record and appearing in both championship matches as the No. 1 and No. 3 seed in 2015 and 2016.
 
Last year, UTC downed UNCG in the semi-finals, 3-2, fighting off three Spartan match point opportunities in the fifth set to earn a spot in the title match against Samford. The Bulldogs claimed the 2016 title in four sets over the Mocs on their home court in Birmingham.
 
Chattanooga enters the tournament on a four-match skid, falling twice in five sets during that span. For the season, the Mocs are 1-7 overall and 1-6 in SoCon matches when it goes to a decisive fifth set.
 
Ally Ford was named to the All-Southern Conference second team, voted on by the league's coaches, on Tuesday afternoon. Ford ranks third in the conference with 405 total kills and a 4.01 per set average. Her kills per set average is the fourth-best mark for a single season in program history.
 
Megan Kaufman joined Ford in receiving SoCon honors as the true freshman libero was named to the all-freshman team. Kaufman finished the regular season with 598 total digs and a 5.25 per set average. The 598 total digs is second among all freshmen across NCAA Division I. Kaufman started all 30 matches as the libero and appeared in all 114 sets.
 
Every match of the tournament will be streamed live on the SoCon Digital Network while the championship match is slated for an ESPN3 broadcast on Sunday. More information on opponents, tickets and more can be found below.

MATCH DETAILS

• 7:30 p.m. ET | Watch Live | Live Stats
• Cullowhee, N.C. (Ramsey Center)
• Ticket, Travel & More Information

SCOUTING: #3 UNCG (18-10, 11-5)
The Spartans have won eight of their last ten matches, five of which in five sets, including seven-straight entering play this weekend in Cullowhee. Their last three matches were decisive 3-2 victories over Wofford, Western Carolina and The Citadel. Chattanooga and UNCG split their regular season matchups with each team winning on their home court, a 3-0 victory for the Mocs and a 3-2 win for the Spartans.
 
UNCG senior Ashley Muench was named the Southern Conference Co-Player of the Year on Tuesday, voted on by the league head coaches. She led the team with 369 kills while adding 279 digs, 54 blocks and 29 service aces. Junior Allison Penner, an all-SoCon first team selection, directs the offense with a 10.45 assists per set average. Freshman Holly Behrends earned all-freshman honors by the league after finishing with 258 kills on a 2.55 per set average.
 
UP NEXT
The winner of No. 3 UNCG and No. 6 Chattanooga will advance to the semifinals and face the winner of No. 2 ETSU and No. 7 Western Carolina on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.