UTC volleyball head coach Travis Filar announced the Chattanooga Mocs 2012 schedule on Wednesday, including a 13-match home schedule at Maclellan Gym. The Mocs will also travel to preseason tournaments at Clemson, Kennesaw State and Indian before opening Southern Conference action.

"We are really excited to release a really competitive 2012 schedule," said Filar. "I couldn't be happier with the competitive balance of teams that we are going to play in the preseason tournaments and mid-week matchups, which will prepare us for the always grueling Southern Conference schedule.

"

Chattanooga will open its 31-match slate on August 24 at Maclellan Gym when the Mocs host the Country Inn & Suites Invitational. Alcorn State is the home-opener before taking on USC-Upstate and instate-rival Tennessee Tech to close the weekend.

The Mocs will hit the road on August 31 to participate in the Clemson Tournament. While in Clemson, S.C., Filar's squad will be paired against East Tennessee State, Charlotte and the host Tigers.

Alabama A&M will visit Chattanooga for a midweek match on Sept. 4, before the Mocs travel to Kennesaw, Ga., for four matches at the Kennesaw State Tournament from Sept. 7-8. Chattanooga will take on the host Owls, Troy, Tennessee State and North Carolina Central.

A second-midweek tune-up will bring Alabama State to the Scenic City on Sept. 11. Chattanooga then heads to Bloomington, Ind., on Sept. 14-15 for its last preseason tournament, the Indiana Hoosier Classic. The Mocs will challenge Miami (Ohio), Valparaiso and Indiana.

"Competing in tournaments at a Big 10 and ACC school are huge for us and provide our team with an opportunity to measure ourselves up against some elite programs," said Filar. "It will be really exciting to get Megan Ernd, who is a native of Indiana, close to home as well as my assistant coach Taylor Wittmer, who recently finished her playing career with the Hoosiers."

Chattanooga opens a four-match home stand Sept. 21, going up against Appalachian State and closing the weekend, Sept. 22, against Western Carolina. Samford will roll into town on Sept. 28 and Wofford wraps up the extended home-stand, Sept. 29.

"Opening up the conference schedule with the first four matches at home will help us gain momentum," said Filar. "It is going to be challenging, no doubt, going up against three divisional foes, but our expectation is to be-in and fight during every conference match. It is going to be great to have that opportunity to do that right away off the bat at home."

The Lady Mocs will hit the road for four-straight matches beginning Oct. 5 as the team travels to Elon, N.C., to take on the Phoenix. A matchup with UNCG closes out the week for Chattanooga on Oct. 6.

Next up on the docket for Chattanooga is a trip to Charleston, S.C., to play College of Charleston and The Citadel on Oct. 13-14.

Davidson and Georgia Southern make the trek to Maclellan Gym on Oct. 20-21, before the Mocs have a two-game road swing at Furman on Oct. 27 and Samford on Oct. 30.

The final home weekend of the season is set for Nov. 2-3 as the Mocs welcome UNCG and Elon to the Scenic City. Senior Day for Chattanooga is set for the home finale on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. against the Phoenix as the team honors seniors Paula Passmore (Merritt Island, Fla.), Heather Parman (Ooltewah), Meagan Ernd (Munster, Ind.) and Christina Teter.

Chattanooga wraps up the schedule with a road trip to Western Carolina and Appalachian St., on Nov. 9-10.

"First and foremost is that I wanted to have one focus in our team's head and hearts throughout the summer," said Filar. "That is to make it to Davidson because when you get there, anything can happen."

The major goal for the squad entering the 2012 campaign is to finish in the top four of the SoCon North Division and compete in the Southern Conference Tournament. This year's event is hosted from Nov. 16-18 in Davidson, N.C., the hometown of coach Filar.

"On a daily basis, I want to fast forward to August 9th," said Filar. "That's when we can get back in the gym for the first day of preseason practice. We have a solid core of veterans coming back that have learned as a group and individually the leadership qualities that the coaching staff is looking for. That is a huge in building up our culture and making it stronger. Therefore, when those freshmen do come in, they are welcomed in and know exactly what is expected out of how we are going to train in the gym and weight room."

Admission to all the home matches at Maclellan Gym is free and the times are subject to change. The schedule page at GoMocs.com will have the most up-to-date information on game times and live events for home and away matches.