The Chattanooga Mocs opened the Chattanooga Classic with an exciting 3-2 win over Wright State Friday night. The crowd at Maclellan Gym saw junior Sarah Batterton (Colbert, Wash.) lead UTC to its second consecutive win with a 16-kill performance top begin the two-day tournament.
“That’s a great win to pick up in front of our home crowd,” Head Coach Travis Filar said. “Sarah and the entire team played a great match. Now we have to keep this momentum moving forward into tomorrow’s matches.”
Batterton was joined by sophomores Kristy Wieser (Lincoln, Neb.) and Allie Davenport (Tyrone, Ga.) with double digit kills in the victory. Wieser picked up a double-double with 13 kills and 22 digs, while Davenport posted 10 kills and three blocks.
The Chattanooga defense was paced by libero Catherine Chason (Alpharetta, Ga.), who totaled 28 digs, and Lauren Gainer (Boca Raton, Fla.) as the junior blocked five Raider attacks.
Wright State took the first set 25-20, but the Mocs stormed back with a 25-18 score in the second to go to the locker room with the match tied.
The Raiders answered back with a 25-22 win in the third frame, but a convincing 25-17 Mocs victory in the fourth sent the contest to a fifth set. Chattanooga claimed the match with a 15-9 win in the deciding game.
The Mocs gathered energy throughout the match going on five-point runs on five different occasions. One UTC rally was capped off with sophomore Anne Bachmann (Lincoln, Neb.) serving up two aces in the second set. Bachman also led the Mocs with 32 assists.
The Mocs continue action in the Chattanooga Classic Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. match against Mississippi Valley State. They also play the 7 p.m. finale against Murray State.
Among other scores, Murray State took a 3-0 win over Mississippi Valley State in the day’s earlier match.
Murray State plays again Saturday morning with a 10 a.m. match against Wright State. The 4:30 p.m. match pins Mississippi Valley State against Wright State.