GREENVILLE, S.C. — The fourth-seeded Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team found itself in a five-set battle for the second-straight day, but ultimately fell to eighth-seeded and tournament-host Furman 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 25-23, 24-26, 16-14) in the Southern Conference semifinal round on Saturday evening in Greenville, S.C.
Chattanooga sees its magical season end with a 17-16 overall record which marks its first winning record since 2016. The 17 wins are the most in a first-year for a head coach in program history. Furman advances to the SoCon title match for the first time since 2015 after the victory.
Chattanooga dominated the opening set, 25-18, behind a .394% team attacking percentage to claim a 1-0 lead in the match. Furman responded with a pair of back-and-forth victories in the second and third, earning 26-24 and 25-23 decisions, respectively.
The Mocs forced a deciding fifth set with a wild 26-24 victory, a set in which the team forced a match-high 10 attacking errors from the Paladins. UTC erased a 10-6 deficit in the fifth set, however, Furman found back-to-back points in the end to clinch a 16-14 set win and a 3-2 win in the match.
"Not the result we wanted. Furman got on a streak at the right time while hosting, but I am so proud of the team and how they left in on the floor," said first-year UTC head coach Julie Torbett.
"Natalie Tyson ended her career with a career high and they all fought and supported each other. This was a very special team and we will build off this season and come back in a better position next year with a team that loves each other, their coaches and the sport of volleyball."
Natalie Tyson was absolutely dominating in what would be her final collegiate match. She finished with a match and career-high 29 kills at a .224% attacking percentage while notching another double-double with 15 digs. The 29 kills are the most for a Moc in a match since Leslee Ball recorded 31 against The Citadel in 2007.
Sydney Hall and Halle Olson each ended with 10 kills apiece while combing for 13 blocks at the net. Sydney Hall recorded eight blocks (one solo, seven assists) while Olson posted five (all assists) as UTC out-blocked Furman by a 15.0 to 11.0 count.
Elaine Redman set a season-high with 55 assists and stuffed the stat sheet with three kills, two block assists and eight digs. She helped direct an offense that finished the match with a .208% attacking percentage on 197 total attacks.
Paige Gallentine was stellar again in the backrow with a match-high 30 digs. Makenzie Jordan assisted in the defensive duties with 15 digs, in addition to a pair of assists and service aces.
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