Chattanooga beach volleyball is set to open the team’s 2024 campaign this weekend with the Mocs traveling to the Sunshine State to take part in the Jacksonville Invitational hosted by Jacksonville University at the Payne Sand Volleyball Courts at Dolphin Beach.
The Mocs are coming off of a 2023 season in which the Mocs finished 19-15 overall alongside a 7-3 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, marking a program-best win total for the team since its inception in 2020. Players to watch out for in the UTC lineup include Neva Clark, who is the reigning 2023 OVC Player of the Year, as well as Joy Courtwright, McKenna Faychak and Maddie Lecik, who each were tabbed as Preseason All-OVC honorees alongside Clark.
Despite the tournament opening play today on Friday, February 23, the Mocs don’t take part in their first match of the season until tomorrow with UTC kicking off their season bright and early at 8 a.m. ET against Palm Beach Atlantic. Later that day, UTC will also take on Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s slate of matches includes a 10 a.m. ET clash with Florida International, before the Mocs round out their season-opening tournament at 12 p.m. ET against tournament hosts, Jacksonville. Florida State and North Florida are also in attendance this weekend but are not scheduled to take on Chattanooga.
“This Florida trip will have strong teams that we’ve never seen before,” Coach Darin Van Horn said. “I know the pairs are excited to put on jerseys again, compete as a team and see some different faces on the other side of the net.”
Jacksonville Invitational – Feb. 23-25
Payne Sand Volleyball Courts at Dolphin Beach
Jacksonville, Fla. (Hosted by Jacksonville)
Friday, February 23
8 AM – Jacksonville vs. North Florida
10 AM – Coastal Carolina vs. Florida State
12 PM – Jacksonville vs. Coastal Carolina
2 PM – Florida State vs. North Florida
4 PM – Jacksonville vs. Florida State
Saturday, February 24
8 AM – Chattanooga vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
10 AM – FIU vs. Coastal Carolina
12 PM – North Florida vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
2 PM – Chattanooga vs. Coastal Carolina
4 PM – FIU vs. North Florida
Sunday, February 25
8 AM – Jacksonville vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
10 AM – Chattanooga vs. FIU
12 PM – Chattanooga vs. Jacksonville
2 PM – FIU vs. Palm Beach Atlantic
4 PM – Jacksonville vs. FIU