It was a block party in Fleming Gymnasium on Friday night, as Chattanooga volleyball stuffed UNCG on its home floor, helping to guide the Mocs to a 3-1 victory over the Spartans.
Chard’e Vanzandt had a night for the ages, as the senior wrapped up her evening with 12 kills and 10 blocks, serving as a driving force to UTC’s dominant victory over UNCG. Vanzandt is the first UTC player since 1998 to have recorded a double-double with blocks.
“So happy to get the win at UNCG for the third year in a row,” head coach Julie Torbett Thomas said.
“I was impressed with our blocking and Chard’e and Kynli (Kirkendoll) were great offensively as well. Marcelle (Baez-Carlo) and Erin (Wyatt) were solid and everyone on the trip was able to contribute to the win.”
With both teams fresh and hungry for a victory, the first set proved to be a dogfight as the two sides exchanged blows over the course of the entire frame. While the Spartans would at one point lead by as much as six, the Mocs stuck to their gameplan, chiseling away at UNCG’s advantage.
After tying the score at 20-20, the Mocs saw true freshman Kynli Kirkendoll step up in a major way, delivering three crucial kills across UTC’s final five points of the set. With a final score of 25-22, the Mocs took the opening frame.
The Mocs were able to blow the match wide open in set two, absolutely dominating the Spartans enroute to a 25-11 set win, putting Chattanooga up 2-0. Through the first two sets, Vanzandt had already notched six of her eventual double-digit block total.
UTC controlled much of the third set, eyeing a sweep in Greensboro, but a late push from the Spartans saw the match extended as UNCG claimed a narrow 28-26 victory in the third.
Despite having missed out on the sweep victory, the Mocs wouldn’t let the Spartans stick around any longer. After jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead in the fourth set, UTC put the match into cruise control, once again showcasing the team’s dominance over UNCG. With yet another 25-11 set win, this time to clinch the match, the Mocs ultimately found themselves on top, defeating the Spartans 3-1 to pick up a crucial Southern Conference victory as the season reaches its final few matches.
Outside of Vanzandt’s historic stat line, the Mocs had many other standout performers that helped contribute to the one-sided victory for Chattanooga. While Vanzandt led the team with her 12 kills, Erin Wyatt (11), Kynli Kirkendoll (10) and Sydney Jackwin (10) all pitched in double-digit kill totals of their own.
Wyatt and Kirkendoll would also each finish with four blocks apiece in the match, creating a stone wall upfront alongside Vanzandt in the match. That stone wall would limit UNCG to a measly .097 hitting percentage in the match.
Setter Elaine Redman came close to notching another double-double onto her belt this season, with Redman finishing with a team-high 34 assists paired with nine digs. Paige Gallentine, as she usually does, led the team in digs with a total of 21, while sophomore Caiti Barthel added 13.
The Mocs will now turn around to face The Citadel tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET in Charleston. That match will be available to stream via ESPN+ with live stats also being provided by the Bulldogs. A win tomorrow night, with the right circumstances, could help propel UTC up into the No. 6 seed of the SoCon standings, and would also put the Mocs half a match behind current No. 3, 4 and 5 seeds ETSU, Samford and The Citadel.