CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. --- Chattanooga volleyball closes out its non-conference slate for the 2024 season this Tuesday by battling with in-state foe Austin Peay at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) in Clarksville.
The midweek clash between the Mocs and Govs will be broadcast on ESPN+ for those not able to make the trek out to Clarksville. Live stats will also be available for the match.
MATCH CENTRAL
Tuesday, October 29 | at Austin Peay | 7 p.m. ET | Stats | Stream
SERIES HISTORY
Austin Peay: 16-19 (Last time: September 6, 2023 – 3-1 W)
GALLENTINE MAKES HISTORY
Paige Gallentine officially moved into second all-time on the Mocs' career digs leaderboard in UTC's match at Wofford earlier this season, with Gallentine now sitting at 2,508 career digs during her time at UTC. When taking into consideration that Lara Newberry, who not only sits atop the UTC career digs leaderboard but the entire NCAA's career digs leaderboard, played during both the 30-point set and rally scoring eras, this means that Gallentine is officially the all-time program leader for career digs for the modern era of scoring (25-point set, sideout scoring). Gallentine has also now officially entered the NCAA's Top 25 all-time when it comes to career digs, with Gallentine coming in a 25th in NCAA history.
TORBETT THOMAS CLOSES IN ON WIN NO. 50
UTC head coach and Director of Volleyball Julie Torbett Thomas is closing in on a Chattanooga coaching milestone as her third year in the Scenic City is now in full swing, with Torbett Thomas inching closer to the 50-win mark as UTC's head coach. Torbett Thomas actively holds a record of 49-40 with Chattanooga, a win total that currently ranks fourth all-time in program history. Currently coaching in her 31st season of collegiate volleyball, Torbett Thomas' all-time coaching record stands at 517-444.
A DYNAMIC FRONT ROW DUO
The front row pairing of Kynli Kirkendoll and Chard'e Vanzandt have taken the Southern Conference by storm this year, not only serving as massive defensive presences for the Mocs but as efficient attackers that can go off at any given moment. The duo make up two of the SoCon's Top 3 when it comes to hitting percentage this season, as the pair is each hitting at a .352 clip this season, tying them for second in the league.
THE RACE FOR THE SOCON RECORD
This year's Chattanooga team has not one, but two of the program's most decorated players competing in their final seasons. Setter Elaine Redman and libero Paige Gallentine have quickly become two of UTC's most decorated volleyball players ever, and the pair currently sit at eight and seven career SoCon POTW awards won, respectively. Redman, who just recently surpassed Gallentine with a SoCon Setter of the Week honor on October 14, now needs just one more Player of the Week award to officially tie herself for the conference record. The SoCon's record holder for most POTW awards won in a single career is Georgia Southern's Martina Veiglova (2001-03), who wrapped up her time having won nine total Player of the Week honors
ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY
To say the 2024 season has been a rough patch for Austin Peay would be an understatement, as the Governors currently hold a record of 1-20 as they enter their contest with the Mocs. Following a win over Mississippi Valley State all the way back on August 30, the Govs have since lost each of their last 19 matches including holding an 0-10 conference record in the ASUN. This past weekend APSU dropped their most recent matchups against Stetson and FGCU, both coming in the form of 3-0 losses. The Governors are an extremely young team, with the team only having one senior and nine of the 14 players on roster being underclassmen including six freshmen. A dynamic offensive attack will keep the Mocs on their toes, with there currently being four players in triple-digit kills this season, four players at or above 20 service aces this season and two players with over 250 assists on the year. Six-foot middle blocker Anna Rita will also be a handful on the front row, as the sophomore has logged a team-high 68 blocks this season, averaging 1.05 blocks/set. Rita is just three matches removed from having a 10-block performance against North Florida on October 19, a career-high for the Latvia native.
SOCON STANDINGS
The Southern Conference season is heating up as we have officially reached the "Back Nine" of the SoCon slate. As things continue to materialize across the league, the Mocs currently sit as the conference's No. 6 seed if the season were to end today. Despite this, the Mocs are in contention for a major jump in the standings with UTC sitting only 2.5 games back from third-place Samford, who Chattanooga just defeated this past weekend in Birmingham. If the season ended today, the standings would read as follows:
1. Mercer: 18-4 (8-1)
2. Wofford: 16-6 (8-2)
3. Samford: 12-8 (6-4)
4. ETSU: 13-8 (5-4)
5. The Citadel: 11-10 (5-5)
6. Chattanooga: 13-10 (4-5)
7. Furman: 8-10 (2-5)
8. UNCG: 7-15 (2-8)
9. Western Carolina: 7-14 (1-7)
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Elaine Redman has officially moved up into fourth all-time in career assists for Chattanooga, having logged 2,783 assists during her time with the Mocs. Redman is now chasing Lauren Greenspoon (2014-17) for third on the program's all-time leaderboard. Greenspoon sits at 3,316 assists with the Mocs.
- Redman's career assist total currently sits at 3,840 when including her time at Toledo. She ranks 31st on the NCAA Division I active career assists leaderboard and needs 160 more assists to notch her 4,000th of her career.
- Paige Gallentine actively ranks 25th in NCAA history when it comes to career digs, sitting at 2,508. Another two digs from Gallentine would help her jump up into 24th, and 10 digs would tie her for 23rd all-time.
- Gallentine also now officially ranks tied for fourth in program history in career aces with 128. She needs another 14 to tie Allie Davenport (2013-16), who had 142, for third all-time.
- Marcelle Baez-Carlo needs 27 total blocks to officially enter UTC's Top 10 in career blocks (she currently has 243).
- Baez-Carlo is also two block assists from entering that UTC Top 10 list as well.
- Baez-Carlo is seven total blocks away from 250 in her career.
- Julie Torbett Thomas needs one more win to reach 50 head coaching victories while at Chattanooga. She currently sits at 517 head coaching wins all-time. With six more wins, Torbett Thomas would tie herself with Tony Jardin as the third-winningest head coach in program history (55 wins).
- Breanah Rives is two blocks from the 50th of her career.
- Redman is 160 assists shy of notching her 4,000th career assist (2,783 of her 3,840 have come with the Mocs).
- Redman is also 23 digs from tallying her 1,000th career dig.
2024 PROMOTIONS SCHEDULE
A variety of marketing and fan promotions are being offered this season for the Chattanooga volleyball team, with several home matches providing unique and fun styling and/or giveaways to fans in attendance. This coming weekend's slate of matches against Mercer and Furman will serve as the Mocs final two home matches of the 2024 season, offering the final two opportunities to catch UTC at Maclellan Gymnasium. Friday's match against Mercer will be International Night at the Mac, where the team's international players will be recognized. Saturday's home season finale will be Senior Day for the Mocs as trading cards of UTC's senior class will be given away to those in attendance (while supplies last). The band, Sugar Mocs and Ladies of Gold will also be in attendance for the final home match of the season. A full list and schedule of this season's marketing promotions for UTC volleyball can be found HERE.
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