CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball squad is set to return to Maclellan Gym this weekend as they host the annual Chattanooga Classic on Friday and Saturday.
 
In addition to the Mocs, the four-team field will consist of Sam Houston State, Louisiana-Monroe and Murray State. Fans are encouraged to bring bottled water, canned food and first-aid supplies among other items as the UTC athletic department will be a collecting site for the American Red Cross in efforts of helping those in need during the disaster from Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas. Admission is FREE all weekend. (Tournament Schedule)
 
Chattanooga began the season last weekend in Oxford, Miss., by participating in the Ole Miss Invitational. The Mocs went 2-2 by notching wins over Florida A&M (3-1) and Louisiana Tech (3-0) while dropping a pair of 3-0 decisions to North Dakota and Ole Miss.

"I think our group showed a lot of toughness and togetherness our first weekend, and we really challenged them this week in practice to fine tune our systems both offensively and defensively and I think we have shown nice growth in those areas," said head coach Travis Filar.

Redshirt sophomore Ally Ford and true freshman Megan Kaufman, both making their debuts over the weekend, earned Southern Conference Player of the Week honors on offense and defense, respectively. Ford, an all-tournament selection, led the Invitational with a 4.85 kills per set average after totaling 63 kills in just 13 sets. Kaufman led the tournament with a 6.85 digs per set as she totaled 89 digs in the 13 sets. Her total digs is the most to start a career in UTC program history, surpassing former Moc and current NCAA career digs leader Lara Newberry ('08).

UTC has had mass amounts of success at home in recent memory as they are a combined 26-3 over the last two seasons while playing in Maclellan, by far the best mark in the Southern Conference.
 
"Now it's time to go out and display that growth as we continue to focus on getting better each match we play. 

"We could not be more excited to be in front of our great fans in Maclellan Gym this weekend, in addition to being very grateful to host three highly competitive and well-coached programs in Sam Houston State, Louisiana-Monroe, and Murray State," added Filar.
 
Full tournament preview including match times, scouting reports and more can be found below.
 
Scouting – Sam Houston State (0-3, 0-0 Southland)
Match Time: Friday, 6:00 p.m. ET
Watch: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: Click Here
 
Sam Houston State started off the 2017 season by participating in the Texas A&M Invitational in College Station, Texas. The Bearkats dropped all three matches including a pair of sweeps to Texas State and host Texas A&M and a four-set loss to the hands of VCU. SHSU was picked third in the preseason Southland Conference coaches' poll and received three first-place votes after returning eight letter winners from last year's 18-14 Southland Conference runner-up team.
 
Senior outside hitters Jordyn Vaughn and Brooke White, along with junior middle blocker Taylor Cunningham were all named to the preseason All-SLC first team. They are three of four returning starters for the Kats, along with middle blocker Amanda Gooch who finished third in the league in hitting percentage as a sophomore. White totaled 33 kills while Vaughn followed with 32 during the opening weekend at Texas A&M.
 
Scouting – UL-Monroe (0-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Match Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET
Watch: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: Click Here
 
UL-Monroe enters the Chattanooga Classic with an 0-4 mark after being swept at the Arkansas Invitational and dropping a three-set decision to Stephen F. Austin. The Warhawks fell in straight sets to the tournament-host Razorbacks, Utah State and CSU-Bakersfield. ULM finished 2016 with a 9-25 overall record and a 3-13 mark in the Sun Belt Conference.
 
Catherine Griffith leads the Monroe attack as she posted 21 kills last weekend while adding 9.0 total blocks, both team bests. Kacey LeBlanc anchors the defense with 40 digs in 12 sets, a team-best 4.44 blocks per set, while the combo of Tara Jenkins and Presleigh Williams directs the offense with 37 and 29 assists, respectively.
 
Scouting – Murray State (2-1, 0-0 OVC)
Match Time: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Watch: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: Click Here
 
Murray State started the season at fellow Southern Conference member Samford, as they participated in the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Ala. The Racers went 2-1 over the weekend after splitting on day one against Ohio (L, 3-0) and SE Louisiana (W, 3-0) while rallying for a day two win over Samford, 3-1.
 
The three-time defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Racers were selected to finish fourth in this year's OVC preseason mark, but totaled six first-place votes. They are looking to replace the most decorated class in program history after losing three-time OVC Player of the Year winner and career leader in kills, Scottie Ingram, and 2016 OVC Defensive Player of the Year Ellie Lorenz. Rachel Giustino totaled a team-best 48 kills, 4.80 per set, while adding a second-best 35 digs last weekend in Birmingham.