The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team outplayed the Kennesaw State Owls to a 3-0 shutout win Tuesday, improving its record to 8-2.
This is the best start to a season since 1987 when UTC also recorded eight wins in the first 10 matches. The Mocs are on a four-match winning streak, in addition to claiming their sixth three-set win.
"To be 6-0 in three-set matches, that's something this team has never done before," head coach Travis Filar stated. "That speaks directly to the confidence of every single player.
Everyone is coming into the gym working hard and giving their best effort in practice and matches."
UTC was down for the majority of the first set, until the Mocs took their first lead of the match at 18-17. Chattanooga then claimed the first set 25-21. The Mocs brought momentum from the first set to convincingly win the second set 25-13.
"We didn't start great in the first set but found a way to win it," Filar said. "After the first set, I loved the momentum we brought with us. We put pressure on them from start to finish, especially from the service line."
In the third set, the Mocs held the lead for the entire set until the Owls brought the score to 23-22 in their favor. However, UTC won the next three points to clinch the third set 25-23.
"We controlled a lot of the third set, but it was tight," Filar stated. "When Kennesaw State took the lead, we showed our toughness by coming out and scoring the next three points. When things get tight, we're doing a great job of embracing that pressure."
UTC recorded 43 kills, in comparison to Kennesaw's 33. The Mocs also posted eight services aces, while the Owls made five. Chattanooga collected 50 digs and 43 assists, and Kennesaw recorded 34 digs and 28 assists.
Lauren Greenspoon (Houston, Texas) made 34 assists against the Owls. She is ranked No. 30 nationally for assists per set and leads Southern Conference opponents.
Allie Davenport (Tyrone, Ga.) paced Chattanooga in kills with 12, and Sarah Batterton (Colbert, Wash.) followed closely with 10.
Catherine Chason (Alpharetta, Ga.) recorded 19 digs, in addition to hitting a service ace to clinch the match for Chattanooga.
UTC is back on the road for the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va., Friday and Saturday. The Mocs are set to play Liberty Friday at 4:30 p.m. (E.D.T). On Saturday, the team faces host-team Virginia Tech at 10 a.m. and Middle Tennessee at 5 p.m.