The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga volleyball team topped Appalachian State Saturday night in Boone, N.C., for the second time this season. The 3-1 win snaps the Mocs (13-17, 8-8) Southern Conference losing record streak, active since finishing with a 12-6 SoCon record in 2008.
Freshman Sarah Batterton (Colbert, Wash.) accounted for nearly an entire set's points, totaling 22.5 points and 20 kills. The middle blocker also downed five blocks en route to Chattanooga's 73-point night.
Freshman Briana Reid (Houston, Texas) finished with 13 kills while seniors Christina Teter (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) and Heather Parman (Ooltewah, Tenn.) each walked away with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Junior Bridget Camacho (Cumming, Ga.) recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 56 assists and 10 digs. It is the setter's sixth 50-plus dig match of the season.
Along with Batterton's five blocks, Teter and sophomore Kasey Talley (Boiling Springs, S.C.)each blocked three Appalachian State attacks and senior Paula Passmore (Merritt Island, Fla.) led the Mocs with 29 digs.
Chattanooga jumped out to a 2-0 set lead before the intermission. The tight 28-26 score in the first frame set the tone for the match and the 25-19 victory in the second frame gave UTC a little breathing room going into the locker room.
The Mountaineers struck back in the third set with a 25-18 win, shocking the Mocs defense. ASU hit a match-best .326 in the win, allowing just two lead changes on its way to 25 points. UTC and Appalachian State were tied 5-5 early in the set, but the Mountaineers pulled away to reach a nine point advantage. The Mocs were able to pull within six points before a kill from ASU's Jessica Eley gave the Mountaineers their only set win.
Chattanooga claimed the fourth and final set 25-23 to take the match 3-1. Another neck-and-neck set, the largest margin of the stanza only reached five points during the early services of the frame. Back-to-back kills from Batterton inched the Mocs into the lead before an attacking error by ASU's Dalton Tolliver handed Chattanooga the final point.
The Mocs will compete in the Southern Conference Tournament next weekend, beginning Friday evening. Check back on GoMocs.com later this week for a full schedule of the tournament.