ATLANTA -- The Chattanooga Mocs' indoor volleyball team will begin the 2021 season in Atlanta, Ga. at the Georgia State Invitational this weekend. The season begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 27 against the Panthers.
 
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Fri., August 27 ­­– at Georgia State – 10 a.m. (STATS)
Fri., August 27 – vs. Memphis – 4:30 p.m. (STATS)
Sat., August 28 – vs. California Baptist – 11 a.m. (STATS)

CHATTANOOGA NOTES

• Concluded the 2020-21 season with a 6-12 overall record and went 4-12 in Southern Conference play.
• Led by 11^th-year head coach Travis Filar, the Mocs return nine players from last year's squad and welcome eight newcomers to the team. The roster (which reflects academic eligibility following the COVID-19 waiver) consists of 13 freshmen, two sophomores, a junior and a senior.
• UTC opened its fall campaign with an exhibition match vs. the Panthers last Friday. Freshman Chandler Alter led the way with nine kills. Chloe Bryan and Kate Neill combined for 15 with Bryan totaling eight kills in the first three sets of the five-set match.
• The nine returners total 83% of the team's kills from the 2020-21 season, 78% of the assists, 77% of the kills, 71% of the digs and 68% of the aces.  
• Senior outside hitter, Gylian Finch, concluded last year's season with 160 kills which was second-best on the team. She enters her fourth year with 716 career kills and 518 digs.
• Last year's UTC kills leader, Maia Rackel, returns for her third season in blue and gold. The junior is 32 kills away from the 500-mark after leading the team with 187 last year. She has totaled 150 career blocks.
• UTC was picked eighth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches Poll. The three-time defending champion Samford Bulldogs were the favorite.

GEORGIA STATE NOTES

• Last season, the Panthers went 9-11 and 7-9 in the Sun Belt.
• GSU was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt East Division.
• Seniors Leah Wilcox, Truth Hafey and Meisheia Griffin lead the Panthers' 20-woman roster. Griffin was one of six players in the SBC to average a block or more per set.

MEMPHIS NOTES

• The Tigers concluded the shortened 2020-21 season with a 5-7 record and went 2-6 in the American Athletic Conference.
• They were picked T-10^th in the AAC preseason poll.
• The Tigers' roster features three freshman, six sophomores, four juniors, three seniors and a grad student.
• Memphis veteran, Elizabeth Orf, is the lone grad student on the squad. She hit .230 last year with 2.29 kills per set. Defensively she added 28 blocks.

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST NOTES

• Last season, the Lancers went 8-8 and 4-8 in league action… finishing .500 or better for the 16^th time in the last 17 seasons.
• The roster is comprised of 13 returners and five newcomers, including two transfers. They bring back two all-conference honorees in Tesa Oaks, a 2018 All-WAC First Teamer, and Christine Graf, a member of the 2019 WAC All-Freshman Team.
• CBU was picked fourth of seven teams in the WAC West Division Preseason Poll.

SERIES HISTORY
Chattanooga vs. Georgia State
Georgia State leads 7-6… UTC won the last meeting 3-2 on Sept. 12, 2020.

Chattanooga vs. Memphis
Memphis leads 3-0 and won the last match 3-0 on Sept. 2, 2008.

This marks the first meeting between Chattanooga and California Baptist.

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MORE ABOUT CHATTANOOGA VOLLEYBALL
Watch "Mission First, Family Always" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8mOmxbzHk4&t=2s
Read "Mission First, Family Always" here: https://gomocs.com/news/2019/9/27/general-chatt-chats-mission-first-family-always.aspx?path=general

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