Volleyball Beaten in Halloween Match at Samford - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics

Saturday, October 31

Birmingham, Ala.

2:00 p.m.

Chattanooga

7-19,2-12SoCon

Samford

12-12,9-5SoCon

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Chattanooga	23	17	23	0
Samford	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Ray Soldano

10/31/2026 5:31:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

Chattanooga ended its busy week with a three-set defeat

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford defeated UTC 3-0 on Saturday to take the weekend sweep of the Mocs. Despite the 3-0 scoreline, the match was close as two of three sets were decided by just two points, just like last night's match.

Final Score
Chattanooga 0, Samford 3 (23-25, 17-25, 23-25)

Records
Chattanooga (7-19, 2-12 SoCon)
Samford (12-12, 9-5 SoCon)

Series Notes
Chattanooga moves to 20-41 all-time against Samford and 5-24 in road matches at Samford… Samford has won three in a row in the series… Today was the 61st all-time meeting between the two schools.

How it Happened
Chattanooga took an early 7-5 lead in the first set after consecutive kills from Elena Vukmanov and Gracie Rose before the Bulldogs answered with five straight points. Kynli Kirkendoll recorded a kill later in the set to cut the Samford lead to 16-14. UTC eventually got within one point at 22-21 after a Samford attack error. Not much long afterwards, a kill by Sophia Garrido tied the set at 23. However, back-to-back kills from Ally Cordes for Samford gave the home team the set 25-23.

Samford kept the momentum going into the second set, as it took a 10-6 lead. Chattanooga chipped away at the lead as a kill from Garrido, followed by a service ace from Mallory Merz made it 15-13. Samford answered back, scoring five of the next seven points to go up 20-15. After that, the Bulldogs maintained their position winning the set 25-17 with a service ace from Cordes as the last point.

A 4-0 run for Samford in the beginning of the third set put the home side up 8-5. Chattanooga battled back to tie the match at 11 on a team block. As the set progressed, Samford gained back control, scoring three points in a row to go up 18-14. The set swung back to Chattanooga, as it scored four of the next five points to trail by just one point. Back-to-back kills from Kirkendoll put UTC within one point again at 23-22. However, Samford had the ball fall in its favor in the end as it pulled out the 25-23 win, capped off by a kill from Cordes.

Individual and Team Stats

Garrido and Rose each had nine kills to lead the Mocs. Garrido's nine kills are a new season high. Rose also contributed nine digs for UTC.
Caiti Barthel contributed 26 digs in the loss.
Kirkendoll and Vukmanov each had three total blocks.
Ashley Reynolds tallied 20 assists to lead UTC at setter.
Cordes led Samford with 22 digs and 16 kills.
Samford, the No. 1 ranked blocking team in the SoCon, outblocked Chattanooga 10-6.
Samford hit .160 while Chattanooga was held to a .102 hitting percentage.

Postgame Quote
Julie Torbett Thomas Head Coach

On today's performance

"These back-to back-matches are tough. So close last night with career highs and to then come back today on Samford's Senior Day and go at it again. I thought Sophia played really well."

Up Next: Chattanooga takes on Mercer on Thursday night at 6 p.m. in Maclellan Gym. The Mocs are inviting all Alumni to come to the match for Alumni Weekend.

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