CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team opened up play at the Dr. Wynn Invitational against the tournament-hosts, Missouri State, and fell in straight-sets (25-18, 25-12, 25-18) on Thursday night.
 
Following the loss, the Mocs drop to 7-5 overall with two matches against 'Power-5' programs remaining on the non-conference slate. MSU improved to 7-3 in 2017.

UTC was out-attacked in the percentage category, .354 - .131, and trailed in the total kills column 45-32. After hitting .206 in the opening set, MSU finished the final two sets attacking at a combined .467 including a .533 second set and totaled 34 kills during that span. The Bears also out-blocked the Mocs 9.0 - 4.0.

Ally Ford led the Mocs with 13 kills on a .333 hitting percentage while totaling seven digs and a block. Emily Plumlee followed with six kills on a team-best .357 percentage while adding 4.0 total blocks.

Chattanooga continues play in the Dr. Wynn Invitational hosted by Missouri State tomorrow with a 4:30 p.m. ET match against Big Ten member Illinois. Live stats will be available on GoMocs.com under the schedule page.
 
Match Stats & Notes
- Ally Ford finished with 13 kills at a .333 percentage ... leads team with 169 kills and a 4.02 kills per set average on the season ... ranks second with 116 digs.
- Lauren Greenspoon dished out 24 assists ... added six digs ... carries a 10.52 assists per set average.
- Emily Plumlee totaled six kills at a .357 percentage ... added 4.0 total blocks ... leads the team this season with 42.0 blocks ... has 11.0 blocks in the last eight sets.
- Megan Kaufman aided the defense with 14 digs ... now has totaled 261 digs this season ... averaging 6.21 digs per set.
- Brianna Anderson made her first start of the season... totaled a season-high five kills and five digs.
 
Missouri State 3, Chattanooga 0
1^st Set | MSU 25, UTC 18
Missouri State started off the opening set of their Invitational by taking ten of the first 15 points before a Mocs attacking error forced a timeout with the score 11-5. Chattanooga claimed four of the next five to pull within 12-9 before the Bears went on a 6-2 spring, forcing the final UTC timeout at 18-11. MSU would close out the set after trading the next 14 points, finalizing a 25-18 set win and a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
2^nd Set | MSU 25, UTC 12
After allowing the first point of the set to the Mocs, Missouri State claimed the next seven points off the serve of three-time All-American Lilly Johnson, amassing a 7-1 lead and forcing the Mocs into a timeout. Extending out to a 17-8 lead, the Bears finished the set off at 25-12 to build a 2-0 lead in the match. For the set, MSU attacked at a whopping .533 percentage while totaling 18 kills.
 
3^rd Set | MSU 25, UTC 18
The Mocs came out of the break looking to extend the match, jumping out to a 6-5 lead before the set was brought to a 9-9 tie. MSU scored the next four points and forced Chattanooga into a timeout, leading 13-9. The Bears extended their run to 8-2, pulling ahead 17-11, and making the Mocs call their final timeout of the set. Chattanooga would battle to cut it to 18-14, but Missouri State totaled three kills and forced four Mocs errors to win the set 25-18 and the match, 3-0.