CULLOWHEE, N.C. ---- The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team suffered its third-straight road loss after a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 29-27) decision at Western Carolina inside the Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, N.C., Sunday evening.
 
Chattanooga falls to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in Southern Conference play following the loss. WCU improves its overall mark to 2-5 and league tally to 2-3.
 
Western Carolina, playing in its home opener, took the opening set by a 25-21 decision after falling behind early and rallying late. The Catamounts and the Mocs both recorded 14 kills in the set, with the home squad attacking at a .243 clip and holding the visitors to a .102 mark.
 
Chattanooga raced out to a 10-5 lead over the Catamounts in the second set before the home team clawed its way back to take a late 19-18 lead. WCU closed things out down the stretch by scoring six of the final 11 points to earn a 25-23 victory and 2-0 lead.
 
The must-win third set for UTC was a back-and-forth affair that saw 11 ties and four lead changes. The Catamounts stretched out to a three-point lead at 20-17 before the Mocs responded with a 6-2 run to pull ahead 23-22. Chattanooga had three set point opportunities at 23-24, 24-25 and 25-26, but failed to capitalize and suffered an ultimate 29-27 set loss.
 
Gylian Finch (Mount Morris, Ill.) and Hayden McGee (Dacula, Ga.) led the Mocs with 12 kills apiece at .189 and .125 percentages, respectively. McGee completed a kill-dig double-double behind a 14-dig performance. MacKenzie Saitta (Elkhorn, Neb.) added seven kills for the Mocs.
 
Mikaela Gauthreaux (Johns Creek, Ga.) returned to the court for the first time since November 16, 2018 after suffering an ACL injury ahead of the 2019 season. Gauthreaux played the final two sets and recorded five kills on nine attacks (.556) in addition to a block assist.
 
Bailey Steger (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) led the team with 21 assists while Sophia Bossong (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) added 19 as part of the 6-2 offense. Bossong added eight digs and two service aces in the defeat.
 
Paige Gallentine (Fenton, Mich.) posted a team-high 17 digs to lead the Chattanooga defense in addition to Brenna Everingham (Noblesville, Ind.) who recorded 14. Sarah Flynn (Alpharetta, Ga.) registered a match-high five block assists to aid the defensive efforts at the net.
 
MATCH BASICS | BOX SCORE
UTC: 4-3, 2-3 SoCon
WCU: 2-5, 2-3 SoCon
 
SET 1 ∙ WCU 25, UTC 21
SET 2 ∙ WCU 25, UTC 23
SET 3 ∙ WCU 29, UTC 27

MATCH NOTES
- Chattanooga drops to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the SoCon… now riding a three-match losing skid… lost last three to WCU and trails in all-time series 42-41.
- Mikaela Gauthreaux appeared in a match for the first time since November 16, 2018 after suffering major knee injuries ahead of the 2019 season… 56^th career match and played in sets number 166 and 167… recorded five kills at a .556 clip.
- Gylian Finch recorded her fourth-straight 10+ kill match after tying with a team-high 12… now has five such matches in six appearances this season… 33^rd career double-digit kill match.
- Hayden McGee tied a team-high with 12 kills on Sunday… third match this season with 10 or more… ranks fourth on the team with 56 kills… posted 14 digs to notch second career double-double.
- Bailey Steger appeared in her third match as a Moc after transferring from Loyola Marymount (CA) in the winter… recorded a season-high 21 assists… most in a collegiate match since a career-high 39 against Lafayette on September 22, 2017 as a member of the Holy Cross program.
 
UP NEXT
Chattanooga (4-3, 2-3 SoCon) wraps up the two-match set against Western Carolina (2-5, 2-3 SoCon) tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET live on ESPN+. Match coverage links are located on the schedule page.

MORE ABOUT CHATTANOOGA VOLLEYBALL
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