CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- The adage "it takes a village" could not have been more accurate on Friday night in Cullowhee, as the Chattanooga volleyball team came together to fend off Western Carolina in five sets, defeating the Catamounts 3-2 in what was a must-win match for the Mocs.
The Mocs built up a two-set lead on WCU behind a dominant start to the match, but a response from the Catamounts alongside some controversial calls down the stretch suddenly saw the match level at 2-2 heading to the fifth frame. It was there that UTC clinched its victory over Western Carolina, winning the final frame 19-17 to keep Chattanooga's hopes of jumping up the SoCon standings alive heading into the final day of the regular season.
"I am always happy when the team finds a way to win," head coach Julie Torbett Thomas said. "Chard'e (Vanzandt) took over in the end but early-on in the match Marcelle (Baez-Carlo) was amazing and Erin (Wyatt) was a go-to. Sydney (Jackwin) was solid the entire match, especially on passing. Elaine (Redman) was a warrior and Paige (Gallentine) was amazing.
"It really was a team effort throughout the entire match."
To open the night, the first two sets were all Chattanooga as the Mocs rolled through their opposition. After taking the team's first lead of the night at 6-5 in the first set, UTC wouldn't trail to the Catamounts again until the third set, as the Mocs appeared to be a team on a mission in Cullowhee.
After claiming 25-18 and 25-17 victories, the Mocs were looking for the sweep. Western Carolina was able to rebound in a must-win third set for the Catamounts, however, as a late run by WCU helped give the Catamounts a 25-19 edge over the Mocs to cut into the Chattanooga lead.
Early-on on set four, the Mocs looked to have returned to form with UTC getting off to an 11-4 scoring run to open the frame. The Catamounts would continue to hang around, not letting the Mocs get too far in front as the set moved along. Nearing the end of the set, the scoreboard read 23-23 with both teams sitting just two points away from the set victory.
Chattanooga would go on to win the following point, but due to a controversial call of "impediment by an official", it was ultimately decided that the point would be replayed. Not only would Western Carolina take the re-do, but they would add the point that followed it, claiming the fourth set 25-23 and forcing the match to head to a fifth and final frame.
In the deciding set, both teams traded jabs as the frame progressed forward. Neither team would gain an advantage of more than two points over the other in the fifth set, providing the fans in attendance with a dramatic conclusion to the night. Tied 13-13, Western would slip a kill past the UTC defense to put the Catamounts on a match point.
Unfortunately for WCU, the Mocs have Chard'e Vanzandt on their team. Vanzandt, who had already taken the match over offensively for Chattanooga at this point in the night, powered home a kill of her own to level the score out again at 14-14. UTC would then have three subsequent match points, all of which were fended off by the Catamounts to bring the match to 17-17.
It was then the duo of Sydney Jackwin and Erin Wyatt that would play hero for the Mocs, recording back-to-back kills with Wyatt's being the clincher in the match. After five long sets of fighting, the Mocs kept their hopes of jumping up in the SoCon standings alive by taking home a 3-2 win over the Catamounts.
The Mocs wrapped up the match with numerous individuals putting together star-making performances. Some of the standouts included a career-high 43 digs by Paige Gallentine, as well as a team-leading 22 total kills by Chard'e Vanzandt.
Elaine Redman also dazzled in the match, as her 67 assists not only marked a new career-high for the Chattanooga native, but it stands as the most assists in a single match by a UTC player since Sophia Bossong recorded 67 for the Mocs back on September 12, 2020 against Georgia State. Redman would add 19 digs to her stat line, her 14th double-double of the season.
Sydney Jackwin would also provide a double-double for the Mocs, recording a career-high 20 kills paired alongside a season-high 21 digs. It's the first time in her career that she's posted a 20 and 20 stat line.
Erin Wyatt wrapped up her evening with a season-high in kills as well, recording 15 on the night. Other double-digit performers for UTC included Marcelle Baez-Carlo (11 kills) and Caiti Barthel (11 digs). Baez-Carlo and Kynli Kirkendoll would finish the match tied with a team-high four blocks.
Following tonight's results, the Mocs remain in the No. 7 spot of the Southern Conference standings heading into the final day of the regular season. With that being said, a win tomorrow at ETSU could help propel the Mocs to as high as the No. 5 seed with the right wins and losses going UTC's way. Until Saturday night, Chattanooga's postseason destiny will remain up in the air.
UP NEXT
The Mocs will now close out their regular season on Saturday, November 16 by taking a trip to visit their in-state rival ETSU. The Mocs still have a ton left to fight for with UTC still able to jump as high as fifth in the Southern Conference standings/tournament seeding when all is said and done. Tomorrow's match against the Buccaneers is slated for a 6 p.m. ET start time.
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