CHATTANOOGA --- After finishing up non-conference play over the weekend at Missouri State, the Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team returns home for the weekend to open up Southern Conference play against Western Carolina and UNCG on Friday and Saturday. Both matches will hold first serve at 6:00 p.m.
 
Friday's match against WCU will hold a pair of promotions in Military Appreciation Night and post-match autographs from the student-athletes. Saturday's match against UNCG will also feature post-match autographs.
 
Chattanooga enters the weekend with an even 7-7 overall record after falling in their previous four matches. The last three losses came to the likes of Missouri State, Illinois and Washington State, all three are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll.
 
The tough non-conference slate and the recent history of success in Maclellan Gymnasium makes the homecoming all that more timely for the Mocs. UTC is 15-1 in their last 16 home SoCon matches and 30-5 overall in the Mac since 2015.
 
"This is one of the most anticipated times of the year for our team and I truly think we are prepared to begin SoCon play," said head coach Travis Filar.
 
"I think our pre-conference schedule has allowed us to really grow as a team because of the various levels and styles we have seen across the net through our first 14 matches."
 
Chattanooga is led on offense by Ally Ford who ranks fourth in the Southern Conference in total kills (202) and kills per set (4.12). She is coming off a weekend where she tallied 46 kills in just ten sets and earned Missouri State Invitational All-Tournament honors. Ford ranks 29^th in NCAA DI in total kills and 42^nd in kills per set, her 12.08 attacks per set ranks 17^th while the 592 total attacks ranks 18^th.
 
Megan Kaufman anchors the defense with a Southern Conference best 290 digs and 5.92 digs per set average. Those marks rank her seventh and eighth, respectively, in all of NCAA DI. The Mocs rank 16^th in the nation with a 17.53 digs per set average.
 
UTC looks to build on their home success over the past years and jump out to a great start in Southern Conference play. It starts with the opener on Friday night.
 
"I think our group will come out very focused and fresh Friday night against a very well-coached, hard-working, and disciplined Western Carolina team," added Filar.
 
Chattanooga's two matches this weekend will both begin at 6 p.m. and be broadcasted LIVE on GoMocs.com, courtesy of MocsVision and the Southern Conference Digital Network. Full scouting reports and coverage information can be found below.
 
Scouting – Western Carolina (5-9, 0-1 SoCon)
Series Record: 39-37, Chattanooga
Last Meeting: L, 1-3 (Nov. 5, 2016) - Cullowhee, N.C.
Match Time: Friday, 6:00 p.m.
Watch Live: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: GoMocs.com
 
The Catamounts captured wins in four out of their last five matches before dropping their SoCon opener on the road at ETSU on Tuesday, 3-1. UTC and WCU last met on Nov. 5, 2016, in Cullowhee, N.C., as Western earned a four-set win over the Mocs. UTC leads the overall meetings 39-37.
 
The Catamounts are led by senior Katie O'Conner who has 98 kills on a .308%, third-best in the SoCon, and sophomore Abigail Veit who leads the team with 133 kills. Chattanooga native, freshman Gabby Gray, sits second on the team with 117 kills while O'Conner adds 41.0 blocks to the Catamount defense.
 
Scouting – UNCG (7-5, 0-0 SoCon)* as of 9/21
Series Record: 28-13, Chattanooga
Last Meeting: W, 3-2 (Nov. 22, 2016) – SoCon Semifinals
Match Time: Saturday, 6:00 p.m.
Watch Live: SoCon Digital Network
Live Stats: GoMocs.com
 
UNCG will open up SoCon play at ETSU on Friday before heading south to Chattanooga the following day. The Spartans dropped two of three at Elon's Tussle in the Triad tournament last weekend after sweeping the joint UNCG-NC A&T Invitational the weekend previous. The Mocs defeated the Spartans in the SoCon semifinals, 3-2, a season ago in a dramatic fifth-set that saw UTC fight off a 14-11 deficit.
 
UNCG is led by Illinois State transfer, Annchara Montgomery, who leads the SoCon with a 1.09 blocks per set average. Allison Penner ranks second in the SoCon with a 10.40 assists per set average while Ashley Muench adds to the offense with a team-best 146 kills on a .278 percentage. Christian Gregory anchors the defense with a 4.43 digs per set average.