After beginning the season 3-0 and claiming the title of the Country Inns & Suites Invitational, the Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team hits the road this weekend travelling to Clemson, S.C., to compete in the Clemson Classic on Friday and Saturday at Jervy Gym.
Chattanooga faces Charlotte, Clemson and former Southern Conference rival East Tennessee State while competing in the tournament. Live stats will be available for all matches, and the Mocs meeting with the host Tigers will be broadcast free via Clemson Athletics.
UTC opens against ETSU Friday at 4 p.m. The Bucs come into the tournament with a 4-1 record with wins against UNC Asheville, Temple, Akron and Presbyterian. ETSU's only loss came at the hands of South Carolina in five sets. The Mocs and Bucs are tied with 29 wins apiece in their history. ETSU took the last meeting 3-0 last season in Maclellan Gym.
Day two features matches with Clemson and the 49ers. Chattanooga takes on the Tigers at 10:30 a.m. Clemson enters the match at 3-0 on the season with wins over Coastal Carolina, South Carolina State and Xavier. This will be only the third time the programs have met with the prior meetings going in the Tigers' favor. Clemson took the first match 3-0 in 1983 and the last in 1993 with the same score.
The Mocs wrap up their road trip against Charlotte at 6 p.m., Saturday evening. The 49ers are also 3-0 topping Bethune-Cookman, Campbell and East Carolina. The 49ers have held serve in past seasons with a 6-0 all-time record against UTC. The last matchup was a 3-1 win for Charlotte at the Coastal Carolina Beach Tournament in Conway, S.C., in 1995.
Senior Paula Passmore (Merritt Island, Fla.) paces the Mocs defense with 77 digs this season. The libero earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors for her All-Tournament performance in the Country Inns & Suites Invitational last weekend. The Merritt Island, Fla., native also set a personal match-high with 41 digs against USC Upstate.
Junior Bridget Camacho (Cumming, Ga.) was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Country Inns & Suites Invitational as she helped UTC to three wins with 119 assista over the weekend. The setter is averaging 11.90 assists per set going into the Clemson Classic.
Chattanooga returns home Tuesday to host Alabama A&M at Maclellan Gym at 7 p.m. The Mocs last downed Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala., 3-0, on Sept. 20, 2011 and hold a 4-00 series advantage. Admission to the match is free and will include post-game autographs from the team and coaches.