CHATTANOOGA --- Even after capturing a gutsy opening set victory, the Chattanooga Mocs (8-17, 4-8 SoCon) volleyball squad couldn't keep momentum on their side during a tight 3-1 (26-28, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23) loss to UNCG (11-14, 5-8 SoCon) on Saturday night inside Maclellan Gymnasium.
 
"We showed some great resilience tonight in winning a tough first set, but we just played close the rest of the way and close isn't good enough in volleyball. That won't get you to 25 points first," said head coach Travis Filar. "But, I'm confident this team will bounce back."
 
Chattanooga falls to 8-17 overall and 4-8 in SoCon action. UNCG snaps a two-match slide and improves to 11-14 and 5-8 while earning its first victory inside Maclellan since 2014.
 
Full match recap, quotes, stats and what's next for Chattanooga volleyball is below.
 
SOUND OFF
"Historically over the last couple years, home has been a really good place to play for us. I loved our bounce back against ETSU last night after a disappointing first set. We were in the match the rest of the way. I loved the way we battled to pull that second set victory out on Friday [32-30, ETSU] , it really showed our toughness as a team.
 
"I think we have to take better care of the ball and value each contact at a higher level of focus. We'll be back Monday and try to make some moves with the remaining conference matches."
- Travis Filar, Head Coach

MATCH RECAP
UNCG 3, Chattanooga 1 
It was a familiar reoccurrence of 'Maclellan Magic' in the first set. Trailing 23-19, a Dani Szczepanski kill cut the deficit to three before a Gylian Finch block and consecutive Ally Ford aces tied the set 23-23. UTC would go on to win the set 28-26 to lead the match 1-0. UNCG rebounded by winning the final three sets by close margins of 25-22, 25-20 and 25-23.
 
Chattanooga's service game was strong for a second-straight night as they handed UNCG eight reception errors in the four set match. Over the last eight sets, UTC has served up 17 aces (2.13 per set) and continue to lead the conference with a 1.55 aces per set average.
 
Ally Ford, Jaquelyn Langhaim and Dani Szczepanski all finished with two aces. Combined, the trio has now recorded 2+ aces in a match 19 times this season. Ford has recorded a kill in six-straight matches and at least two kills in three-straight.
 
Defensively, the Mocs played tough and finished with new season bests in both team blocks (11.0) and total digs (91). Brenna Everingham set a season high in digs for the second-straight night, posting a match-high 31 (7.75 per set) during her second start at the libero position. In addition, Gylian Finch recorded a season-high 19 digs while Miranda Elpers followed with 17, second most for her this season.
 
Emily Plumlee led the team with seven block assists and added four kills while Eden Murray aided the play above the net with five block assists and seven kills. Sarah Root joined the block party with four block assists while supplying the offensive with six kills at a .190 clip.
 
Szczepanski led the team with 11 kills (.222) and chipped in with three block assists and four digs. Finch added nine kills, an ace and a solo block to her dig total. Langhaim (24) and Maddie Halsey (18) combined for 42 assists as the Mocs two primary setters.  
 
UP NEXT
Chattanooga turns its sights to a three-match road trip over the next week and-a-half. UTC will begin the journey on Friday (Nov. 2) and Saturday (Nov. 3) at Mercer and The Citadel. Match coverage links are found on GoMocs.com under the volleyball schedule tab.

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