CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Chattanooga volleyball is set to host its final two home matches of the 2024 season this weekend as the Mocs welcome Mercer and Furman to Maclellan Gymnasium for a pair of SoCon matchups.
The Mocs have been in great form as of late, with UTC having won five of their last six matches. Chattanooga will face some tall tasks this weekend however, with the SoCon-leading Bears getting a look at the Mocs on Friday followed by the Paladins coming to town on Saturday.
Friday's match versus Mercer is slated to begin at 6 p.m. ET while Saturday's Senior Day match against Furman is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET. Both matches are free to attend and will be available to stream on ESPN+.
MATCH CENTRAL
Friday, November 1 | vs. Mercer | 6 p.m. ET | Stats | Stream
Saturday, November 2 | vs. Furman | 4 p.m. ET | Stats | Stream
SERIES HISTORY
Mercer: 21-21 (Last time: October 5, 2024 – 2-3 L)
Furman: 30-50 (Last time: November 4, 2023 – 3-0 W)
THE 2024 SENIOR CLASS
A total of five Chattanooga volleyball seniors will officially be playing in their final matches at Maclellan Gymnasium this Friday and Saturday, as the 2024 Senior Day honorees for the Mocs include the following individuals: Marcelle Baez-Carlo, Paige Gallentine, Elaine Redman, Chard'e Vanzandt and Erin Wyatt. Fans are encouraged to come out to the Mac this Saturday for UTC's Senior Day celebration against Furman, during which the aforementioned five players will be recognized for their contributions to Chattanooga volleyball.
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 2,533 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 at 23rd in NCAA history.
TORBETT THOMAS REACHES 50TH WIN WITH THE MOCS
UTC head coach and Director of Volleyball Julie Torbett Thomas officially reached yet another coaching milestone in her illustrious, 31-year coaching career earlier this week as Torbett Thomas earned her 50th win at UTC's head coach. Torbett Thomas' coaching record with the Mocs now sits at 50-40, making her the fourth coach in program history to coach the Mocs to 50+ wins. She needs another six victories to surpass Tony Jardin for the third-most head coaching wins in program history. Torbett Thomas' win percentage with the Mocs (.556) actively ranks as the highest win percentage by a UTC head coach in program history. Her career head coaching record now stands at 518-444.
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. Vanzandt currently ranks second in the SoCon in terms of hitting % (.350) while Kirkendoll clocks in at seventh (.338) 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 MERCER
Mercer enters the weekend ranked first in the Southern Conference holding a record of 18-4 on the season and 8-1 in SoCon play. The Bears are riding a five-match win streak during which the team has only dropped a combined two total sets. The last time the Mocs and Bears met, UTC gave Mercer a run for its money as the Mocs ultimately fell in five sets in Macon. The Mocs will be aiming to flip this Friday's match into a win this go around, but in order to do so the Mocs will have to be able to neutralize one of the NCAA's best serving teams. Mercer actively ranks third in the entire country when it comes to service aces/set (2.27) as a team in 2024, while leading the nation in total service aces with 191. Much of this success on the serve can be credited to Brooke Phillips, who currently ranks in the top five nationally in both total service aces (57 – 2nd) and aces/set (0.68 – 5th) this season.
ABOUT FURMAN
Furman has seen a recent skid over the course of the SoCon season, with the Paladins having lost six of their last seven matches and Furman coming into the weekend with an 8-11 overall record and 2-6 league record. Despite it now being the final push of the 2024 season, this will mark the first time that the Mocs and the Paladins will have crossed paths after the teams' October 4 match was rescheduled to November 12 following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Furman's defense is anchored by their back row, as the Paladins currently sit 35th in the country when it comes to digs/set (16.52) this season. The stars of their defensive unit include libero Kennedy Seekford, who ranks 57th in the NCAA in digs/set individually (4.55) as well as middle blocker Genevieve Perry, who currently sits second in the Southern Conference when it comes to blocks/set (1.17).
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 ETSU. If the season ended today, the standings would read as follows:
1. Mercer: 18-4 (8-1)
2. Wofford: 16-6 (8-2)
3. ETSU: 14-8 (6-4)
4. Samford: 12-8 (6-4)
5. The Citadel: 11-10 (5-5)
6. Chattanooga: 14-10 (4-5)
7. Furman: 8-11 (2-6)
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 2,825 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 3,882 when including her time at Toledo. She ranks 32nd on the NCAA Division I active career assists leaderboard and needs 118 more assists to notch her 4,000th of her career.
- Paige Gallentine actively ranks 23rd in NCAA history when it comes to career digs, sitting at 2,533. Another five digs from Gallentine would help her jump up into 22nd all-time.
- Gallentine also now officially ranks tied for fourth in program history in career aces with 130. She needs another 12 to tie Allie Davenport (2013-16), who had 142, for third all-time.
- Marcelle Baez-Carlo needs 26 total blocks to officially enter UTC's Top 10 in career blocks (she currently has 244).
- Baez-Carlo is also one block assist from entering that UTC Top 10 list as well.
- Baez-Carlo is six total blocks away from 250 in her career.
- With six more wins, Julie Torbett Thomas would tie herself with Tony Jardin as the third-winningest head coach in program history (55 wins).
- Redman is 118 assists shy of notching her 4,000th career assist (2,825 of her 3,882 have come with the Mocs).
- Redman is also eight digs from tallying her 1,000th career dig.
- Sydney Jackwin needs 19 digs to reach 700 in her career.
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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