CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga volleyball team battled through five grueling sets Friday night against their in-state rival ETSU, and while the Mocs threw everything they had at the Buccaneers they were unable to clinch the win as Bucs took the 3-2 victory on the night.
The Mocs (17-10, 5-7 SoCon) saw a valiant effort across the board in Maclellan Gym, as four Mocs finished the night with double-digit digs while three had double-digit kills for UTC. However, an ETSU (4-18, 4-7 SoCon) team that has been heating up in league play was able to squeak out the victory over the Mocs to tighten things up in the SoCon standings.
UTC got off on the right foot in set one, capturing the frame 25-21 over the Bucs. The opening set, like much of the rest of the night, was dominated by Chattanooga service aces as the Mocs were able to jump ahead 1-0.
The Buccaneers were able to clap back the following two sets, however, putting the Mocs in the danger zone for the remainder of the match as ETSU claimed 25-15 and 25-22 wins in sets two and three. To earn the conference rivalry win, the Mocs would need to win out in front of their home crowd.
In set four, the Mocs would once again turn to their serving to help force a fifth frame as UTC notched a total of five aces compared to ETSU's zero in the fourth. Riding pinpoint serves from the likes of Paige Gallentine, Makenzie Jordan and Morgan Romano, the Mocs took set four 25-19 to set up a deciding fifth set.
Both teams exchanged blows and leads to open the all-important fifth set, as the score would ultimately read 11-11 with some crucial points coming down the pike. ETSU found itself with one foot in the door, holding a 14-13 match point in their fingertips, but the Mocs weren't going to back down.
Chattanooga would continue to pull back to even with the Buccaneers, but East Tennessee State kept putting themselves on match point. After fending off ETSU match points a total of four times, the Bucs finally punched home a 18-16 set win to down the Mocs 3-2.
Statistically it was a career night for junior outside hitter Chard'e Vanzandt, as she came away with a career-high 20 kills, leading the category for the Mocs. Gylian Finch (17) and Morgan Romano (14) also tallied double-digit kill performances. Elaine Redman also finished one assist shy of matching her season-high for assists that she set just two matches ago, as the Chattanooga, native wrapped up her night with 53 total assists.
The Mocs' service success rested on the shoulders of both Paige Gallentine and Makenzie Jordan, who each notched five in the loss. The totals mark a career-high in aces for both Gallentine and Jordan.
UTC's defense was spearheaded by a pair of 17-dig nights by Gallentine and freshman Caiti Barthel. The total marks a career high for Barthel, while also extending Gallentine's double-digit dig streak to 21 consecutive matches. A trio of Mocs would finished tied for the team lead in blocks with two each.
UP NEXT
UTC now hits the road for one last regular season road trip next weekend as the Mocs are set to travel to Western Carolina (7-15, 4-7 SoCon) and Furman (16-6, 7-4 SoCon) on November 3-4. The Mocs' Friday night clash with the Catamounts is set for a 6 p.m. ET start time while their match on Saturday versus the Paladins will begin at 4 p.m. ET. Chattanooga will then return home to host their final two matches of the regular season November 9-10 with the Mocs welcoming Mercer (12-10, 8-3 SoCon) and Samford (10-13, 5-6 SoCon) to Maclellan Gymnasium. Both of those matches will start at 6 p.m. ET.
50 SEASONS OF CHATTANOOGA VOLLEYBALL
The 2023 season for the Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team marks a major landmark for the program and the university, as UTC volleyball officially celebrates its 50th season of competition as a university sponsored athletic program. Following the adoption of the Title IX legislation back in 1972, UTC added women's basketball, tennis, and volleyball programs to its roster of athletic teams, bringing on five decades of history for each of the teams.
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