HOUSTON, Texas – The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team claimed a 3-2 win over Houston Baptist Saturday night in Houston, Texas at the Husky Classic. Junior Catherine Chason (Alpharetta, Ga.) was also named All-Tournament for her three-march performance at libero.
The Mocs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, winning the first two sets 25-16 and 25-23, but the Huskies stormed back to tie the contest 2-2, 25-23 and 25-19. UTC was able to put HBU away in the fifth set with a convincing 15-7 score to pick up the team's first win of the season.
“I am happy for our team,”Head Coach Travis Filar said. “It's nice to get that first win and to bring momentum back with us to Chattanooga going into Tuesday night's home match against Kennesaw State.”
Junior Sarah Batterton (Colbert, Wash.) paved the way for the Mocs offense with 19.5 total points. She recorded a team-best 18 kills while fellow junior Julimar Alvarado (San Juan, Puerto Rico) followed up with a 15-kill, 16-point performance. Kristy Wieser (Lincoln, Neb.) and Briana Reid (Houston, Texas) both posted double-digit kill performances with 12 each.
Chattanooga was held to 38 points by Northern Arizona, falling 3-0 in its first Saturday match. NAU defeated the Mocs 25-17, 25-18 and 25-17.
Reid led the Mocs with 8.5 points on eight kills and an assisted block. Sophomore Nicole Sumida (Hixson, Tenn.) followed up with 7.5 points on six kills and a block assist.
Chason was named to the all-tournament team at the close of the weekend series after leading the Mocs with 52 digs, averaging 4.33 digs per set from the libero position.
“She started all three sets at libero and played really well,” Filar said. “She is really a defensive anchor for us. She does a great job of keeping her composure no matter the score and does her job.”
The Mocs return to Maclellan Gym for the first time in 2014 Tuesday to open its home schedule against Kennesaw State. UTC hosts the Owls for a 6 p.m. match for the program's first “Mocs Fly Together” event. Students, student-athletes and staff members are all encouraged to attend the team's only midweek match of the year in an effort to “Pack the Mac.”
