CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Chattanooga volleyball came away with its first Southern Conference victory of the 2024 season Saturday afternoon, with the Mocs navigating the UNCG Spartans in a 3-1 win at Maclellan Gymnasium.
The Mocs (10-9, 1-4) strung together three consecutive set wins against the Spartans (6-12, 1-5) after dropping the opening frame, as UTC ultimately ended up out-hitting UNCG .323 to .193 when all was said and done.
"We haven't been discouraged this season," senior Elaine Redman said following the win. "We've been going five and keeping our matches super close. Obviously it sucks to lose but we're playing really good and hard volleyball. Today was just awesome for everyone to come out and not be nervous or timid.
"We've stayed united throughout this process and every day we want to win and work harder for each other."
Greensboro had a strong start to their day, opening the match with a 25-20 win in the first set to put the Mocs on their backheels early-on. However, Chattanooga put together a perfect response in the second set with a dominating frame across the board.
Sparked by Elaine Redman, whose back-to-back plays that included recording a solo block followed by a kill on a free ball provided by UNCG galvanized the bench and crowd, the Mocs cruised past the Spartans with a 25-16 victory in set two to level the score.
"It means the world to me to have the girls supporting me like that," Redman added. "That's why you play sports and that's why we're here: to find people we love and care for each other. To have my team at my back means the world to me."
The Mocs ended up finishing the second set with a red-hot team hitting percentage of .563.
Now ignited by such a strong showing in the second, UTC floored it in the third set with another 25-16 result, flipping the momentum on the Spartans and carrying a 2-1 lead into the fourth frame. Much like the previous two sets, it was all Chattanooga to close out the match as the Mocs cruised to a 25-15 set win, securing a 3-1 victory and the team's first SoCon win of 2024.
"Our mentality this week was to just go and grab one in conference," Chard'e Vanzandt said. "We got off to a rocky start, but things are turning around for the better and the storm is over now. We knocked off UNCG and they're not a bad team, so now we ready to go and get some more wins."
The Mocs were ultimately led by Breanah Rives' 17 kills, which she paired with nine digs and four blocks in the match. Both Sydney Jackwin and Chard'e Vanzandt also added double-digit kill totals of their own for the Mocs, as each recorded 14 in the win. Jackwin would go on to record UTC's lone double-double, finishing with 12 digs alongside a team-high three aces.
Elaine Redman continued her hot streak as she wrapped up the day with 46 assists and five kills on a .500 hitting percentage. Redman, as well as Vanzandt, would wrap up their days as co-team leaders in blocks recording five each.
Paige Gallentine did what she did best, finishing with a team-high 18 digs. Chandler Alter would add 13 digs of her own to round out the Chattanooga stat sheet.
UP NEXT
Following a short break, the Mocs return to action this Thursday and Friday as UTC's long stretch of home matches rolls on against ETSU and Western Carolina. First, the Mocs welcome the Buccaneers to Maclellan for a 6 p.m. ET matchup on Thursday, October 17. Chattanooga will then play host to WCU on Friday, October 18 at 6 p.m. ET. UTC then closes out its homestand the following week on Thursday, October 24 with Wofford coming to town at 6 p.m. ET. Each of those matches are free to attend for the public, and will also be available to stream on ESPN+.
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