HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- Chattanooga volleyball fell in its season-opening contest on Friday at the Betty Austin Invitational in Huntsville, with the Mocs being defeated 3-1 by Southern Illinois.

The Mocs (0-1) were able to grab the third set from the Salukis (1-0), but it ultimately wasn't enough with SIU pulling away to hand UTC its first loss of the 2024 season.

Southern Illinois jumped ahead quickly, first by claiming a 25-17 victory in the opening frame. They carried their momentum right into the next set by capturing a tightly contested second set, winning it 25-23.

The Mocs bounced back in the third frame with a 25-18 win over the Salukis, but the celebration was short-lived with SIU clinching the match in the fourth with a 25-13 victory.

Two Mocs players ended up finishing the night with double-doubles, with Sydney Jackwin (10 kills, 18 digs) and Elaine Redman (28 assists, 11 digs) doing so. Jackwin's dig total finished as a team-high, as did her kill total as she matched teammate Chard'e Vanzandt in the category.

Vanzandt also finished as the team leader in service aces (3) and total blocks (3). Paige Gallentine also notched a double-digit dig night by tallying 12, continuing a streak of having 10+ digs that extended into last season.

The Mocs return to action on Saturday for a pair of tournament matches, starting first at 10 a.m. ET with a battle against Oral Roberts. UTC will then close out its second day at the Betty Austin Invitational with a 5 p.m. ET match versus Idaho.

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