CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Mocs Volleyball team is three weeks away from the start of the 2026 regular season. Ever since the beginning of preseason on July 29, the Mocs have been working hard in Maclellan Gym in preparation. 

"I have been very pleased with our players' work ethic, both in the gym and in the weight room. They have embraced the challenges we've presented and have consistently shown a willingness to improve every day," said Head Coach Julie Torbett Thomas. 

UTC has its eyes set on the Chattanooga Classic on Aug. 28-29, where it will face off against Tennessee State, Valparaiso, and UAB to start its 2026 slate. 

Who is returning?
Chattanooga returns 12 players from the 2025 team. Its team leaders in assists with 654 (Ashley Reynolds), digs with 548 (Caiti Barthel), and blocks with 108 (Kynli Kirkendoll) are all back this season for the Mocs. 

On the attack, UTC brings back Gracie Rose, who ranked second on the team a year ago in kills with 271. Another key player returning for the Mocs is Jordin Glass, who was a SoCon All-Freshman Team honoree at Middle Blocker. The other seven players back this season are Bailey Burgess, Addison Walker, Mallory Merz, Destiny Wiggins, Laila N'diaye, Finley Hilliard, and Elena Vukmanov. Several of these players have contributed for the Mocs in their career and are very capable of being important pieces during the 2026 season. 

New Faces
The Mocs have five new players this fall, four coming from the transfer portal, and one straight from high school. Click their name to be directed to their signing stories to learn more about them. 

• Ryan Oden, So., DS/L, MTSU, 5-foot-8

• Delaney Wingenbach, Fr., OH, Georgia Southern, 5-foot-11

• Emily Geaquinto, So., S, Santa Fe College, 6-foot

• Sophia Garrido, 5th, RS, Arkansas Little Rock, 5-foot-10

• Caroline Peterson, Fr., DS/L, Asheville Christian, 5-foot-10

Notes on the Coaching Staff
Torbett Thomas begins her fifth season with the Mocs, currently holding a 69-58 record in the Blue and Gold. She has had a winning record all four seasons so far in the Scenic City. Torbett Thomas is coming off a 16-13 season with a 10-6 SoCon record, which tied the 2022 season for most conference wins in her tenure.

Kaleigh Fitzgerald starts year two with UTC as Assistant Coach, helping Chattanooga earn a tied third finish in the SoCon Regular Season in 2025. New to the staff this year is Sophia Bossong, a 2023 Mocs Volleyball Alum, as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. 

Upcoming Exhibition Games

Chattanooga gets its first opportunity to showcase the hard work it has put in this preseason on Wednesday, Aug. 12 against Georgia College & State, a Division II program out of Milledgeville, Georgia. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the exhibition match at Maclellan Gym.

"The next step is seeing that work translate into competition. We are excited to scrimmage another team next week. As a program, we have raised our standards this year and our players have responded in a very positive way," Torbett Thomas said.

The week after on Tuesday, Aug. 18, Chattanooga plays its annual Blue and Gold Scrimmage. The 2026 roster will be divided into two squads and they will face off at 5 p.m. Fans are invited to attend both home scrimmages on Aug. 12 and Aug. 18. Admission is free. 

Chattanooga's final exhibition on the schedule is at Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Aug. 22. First serve between the two in-state opponents is set for 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET.

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