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No. 7 Chattanooga, No. 3 Wofford advance to the SoCon semifinals
Mocs upend the Bears in four sets; Terriers outlast the Catamounts
No. 7 Chattanooga 3, No. 2 Mercer 1
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – No. 7 Chattanooga upset No. 2 Mercer in four sets in the third quarterfinal match at the Southern Conference Volleyball Championship on Friday. Chattanooga will take on the winner of No. 3 Wofford and No. 6 Western Carolina in the second semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Wofford’s Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
The match began as a back-and-forth affair as the squads split the opening 24 points. Mercer scored three of the next four points to go ahead 15-13 as the set paused for the media timeout following a kill by Aliyah Waldon, an all-freshman team selection.
After the break, Chattanooga moved in front and took a 21-19 lead on a kill by Chard’e Vanzandt, forcing a Bears timeout. Mercer would tie the score at 22-22 after an ace by Waldon, but the Mocs would score three of the next four points as a kill by second-team all-conference performer Morgan Romano ended the set 25-23, giving Chattanooga a 1-0 lead in the contest.
In the second set, Mercer scored the first four points. The Bears would eventually increase their lead to as many as 12 following a kill by Waldon that made the score 18-6. The Mocs responded with five straight points after that, punctuated by a kill from Kate Neill. Mercer would keep Chattanooga at bay for the remainer of the set, finishing the frame with a kill from Gia Padilla to win 25-18 and tie the match at one set apiece.
The third set was another seesaw battle. With the score tied 10-10, Mercer scored four straight points, with the run ending on an attack error by Chattanooga. The Mocs answered with a 4-0 run of their own that finished with a block from Romano. Mercer’s Kylee Quigley, a first-team all-conference selection, got a kill on the next point to send the frame into a media timeout.
After falling behind 18-14, Chattanooga went on a 7-1 run to move ahead 21-19, prompting a timeout call from Mercer. The Bears scored three straight points to move in front after an ace by Kiera McCarles made the score 22-21. The lead continued to change hands as the frame went into extra points.
Following the score being tied at 22-22, the frame was tied seven more times before it ended. The Mocs would eventually win the marathon set 31-29 after kills from Romano and Halle Olson, putting Chattanooga ahead 2-1.
Mercer began the fourth set fast and got out to a 10-5 lead. Chattanooga came back with a 5-0 run to tie the score at 10. The Mocs would continue their momentum and hold a 14-12 lead following a kill from Vanzandt, leading to the Bears calling a timeout. Following the timeout, Mercer regained the lead at 17-16 after back-to-back kills from first-team all-conference selection Skyler Bumpers. The lead would go back-and-forth again before an ace from Quigley made the score 21-19 and the Mocs took a timeout.
For the second straight set, the score was tight as the frame got down to its final moments. The Bears clung to a 22-20 advantage before the Mocs scored three straight points via kills by Vanzandt, Romano and Olson to take the lead. After an attack error by Mercer, Vanzandt got another kill to finish the set 25-22 and give Chattanooga the four-set victory.
Four Mocs finished with double-digit kills, led by Romano’s 16. Vanzandt finished with 13 kills and six total blocks, four of which were solo. Paige Gallentine, a second-team all-conference performer, recorded a match-high 21 digs for Chattanooga. Quigley had a match-high 20 kills along with 18 digs. Waldon and Padilla shared the team high in digs with 19 apiece.
No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Western Carolina 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – No. 3 Wofford outlasted No. 6 Western Carolina in a five-set thriller in the final quarterfinal match on Friday night. The Terriers will face No. 7 Chattanooga in the second semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Wofford’s Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
The two teams were even through 30 points of the opening set as the score stood 15-15. Western Carolina would eventually go up 18-16 after an ace by Ali Morris, which forced a Wofford timeout. The Catamounts went on a 3-0 run after the break to force another Terrier timeout as Western Carolina was four points away from a set-one win.
After the break, the Terriers were able to side-out on the next point to end the run. Western Carolina did not lose control of the set though, ending the opening frame with a 25-20 win following a kill by Morris.
Wofford built a 10-8 lead early in the second set. Western Carolina countered with five straight points, punctuated with a kill by Bailey Hartsough. The Terriers responded with a run of their own to take a 14-13 lead, leading to the Catamounts taking a timeout. Wofford would get another four points after the break, making Western Carolina use its final timeout of the set. The Terriers would not let their lead get lower than four for the rest of the frame, eventually winning 25-19 on a kill by Sarah Barham, a first-team all-conference selection.
The Catamounts jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead in the third set, forcing Wofford to take an early timeout. The Terriers got three straight points out of the break, but it was all Catamounts after that. Western Carolina went on a 6-0 run with Hartsough on the service line to take a 16-5 lead, with Wofford using its final timeout of the frame during that run.
The two teams alternated the next four points before the Catamounts scored four straight points to hold a 21-8 advantage. Western Carolina would eventually end the set with a 25-11 victory following back-to-back kills from Hartsough.
In the fourth set, Wofford held a steady lead through the first half of the frame, leading 15-12 at the media timeout after a kill by Barham. The Terriers kept up their strong play after the break and following back-to-back kills from Addison Foote put Wofford up 19-13, the Catamounts took a timeout.
After the break, Western Carolina cut into the lead. A kill from the Catamounts’ Livi Weidmann made the score 21-17 in favor of Wofford, making the Terriers call a timeout. Wofford pushed the lead up to six when play resumed, but a 4-0 run by Western Carolina made the score 23-21, forcing the Terriers to take their final timeout.
The Catamounts’ run would carry them to match point at 24-23. Western Carolina would have match point once again two points later after a kill from Weidmann, but Wofford would score the next three points to win 27-25, forcing a fifth set.
In the deciding set, Wofford got out to an early advantage, taking a 6-2 lead after a block by Foote. The Catamounts took a timeout after the early onslaught and made a run to get back within one following a block by Eden Punch, which made the score 7-6 in favor of Wofford. Three points later, Punch and Sarah Janourova combined for a block to tie the score at 8-8.
The two squads split the next six points to keep the score tied. Wofford then got a kill from Barham and Western Carolina had an attack error on the next point, forcing the Catamounts to take a timeout with the score sitting at 13-11. Western Carolina would get the next point before kills from Sarah MacLean and Emily Hodsdon ended the set 15-12 and gave Wofford the win.
MacLean finished with a team-high 16 kills. Foote had a double-double for the Terriers, finishing with 12 kills and a team-high 16 digs. Wofford’s Laney Klika had a match-high 33 digs. Hartsough finished with a match-high 22 kills along with 13 digs. Morris logged 20 kills and 26 digs.
2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Tuesday, Nov. 14
First Round
Match 1: No. 8 ETSU 3, No. 9 UNCG 1 (at ETSU)
Friday, Nov. 17
Quarterfinals
Match 2: No. 4 Samford 3, No. 5 Furman 2
Match 3: No. 1 The Citadel 3, No. 8 ETSU 0
Match 4: No. 7 Chattanooga 3, No. 2 Mercer 1
Match 5: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Western Carolina 2
Saturday, Nov. 18
Semifinals
Match 6: No. 4 Samford vs. No. 1 The Citadel, 5 p.m.
Match 7: No. 7 Chattanooga vs. No. 3 Wofford, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 19
Championship
Match 8: Match 6 winner vs. Match 7 winner, 4 p.m.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – No. 7 Chattanooga upset No. 2 Mercer in four sets in the third quarterfinal match at the Southern Conference Volleyball Championship on Friday. Chattanooga will take on the winner of No. 3 Wofford and No. 6 Western Carolina in the second semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Wofford’s Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
The match began as a back-and-forth affair as the squads split the opening 24 points. Mercer scored three of the next four points to go ahead 15-13 as the set paused for the media timeout following a kill by Aliyah Waldon, an all-freshman team selection.
After the break, Chattanooga moved in front and took a 21-19 lead on a kill by Chard’e Vanzandt, forcing a Bears timeout. Mercer would tie the score at 22-22 after an ace by Waldon, but the Mocs would score three of the next four points as a kill by second-team all-conference performer Morgan Romano ended the set 25-23, giving Chattanooga a 1-0 lead in the contest.
In the second set, Mercer scored the first four points. The Bears would eventually increase their lead to as many as 12 following a kill by Waldon that made the score 18-6. The Mocs responded with five straight points after that, punctuated by a kill from Kate Neill. Mercer would keep Chattanooga at bay for the remainer of the set, finishing the frame with a kill from Gia Padilla to win 25-18 and tie the match at one set apiece.
The third set was another seesaw battle. With the score tied 10-10, Mercer scored four straight points, with the run ending on an attack error by Chattanooga. The Mocs answered with a 4-0 run of their own that finished with a block from Romano. Mercer’s Kylee Quigley, a first-team all-conference selection, got a kill on the next point to send the frame into a media timeout.
After falling behind 18-14, Chattanooga went on a 7-1 run to move ahead 21-19, prompting a timeout call from Mercer. The Bears scored three straight points to move in front after an ace by Kiera McCarles made the score 22-21. The lead continued to change hands as the frame went into extra points.
Following the score being tied at 22-22, the frame was tied seven more times before it ended. The Mocs would eventually win the marathon set 31-29 after kills from Romano and Halle Olson, putting Chattanooga ahead 2-1.
Mercer began the fourth set fast and got out to a 10-5 lead. Chattanooga came back with a 5-0 run to tie the score at 10. The Mocs would continue their momentum and hold a 14-12 lead following a kill from Vanzandt, leading to the Bears calling a timeout. Following the timeout, Mercer regained the lead at 17-16 after back-to-back kills from first-team all-conference selection Skyler Bumpers. The lead would go back-and-forth again before an ace from Quigley made the score 21-19 and the Mocs took a timeout.
For the second straight set, the score was tight as the frame got down to its final moments. The Bears clung to a 22-20 advantage before the Mocs scored three straight points via kills by Vanzandt, Romano and Olson to take the lead. After an attack error by Mercer, Vanzandt got another kill to finish the set 25-22 and give Chattanooga the four-set victory.
Four Mocs finished with double-digit kills, led by Romano’s 16. Vanzandt finished with 13 kills and six total blocks, four of which were solo. Paige Gallentine, a second-team all-conference performer, recorded a match-high 21 digs for Chattanooga. Quigley had a match-high 20 kills along with 18 digs. Waldon and Padilla shared the team high in digs with 19 apiece.
No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Western Carolina 2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – No. 3 Wofford outlasted No. 6 Western Carolina in a five-set thriller in the final quarterfinal match on Friday night. The Terriers will face No. 7 Chattanooga in the second semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Wofford’s Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
The two teams were even through 30 points of the opening set as the score stood 15-15. Western Carolina would eventually go up 18-16 after an ace by Ali Morris, which forced a Wofford timeout. The Catamounts went on a 3-0 run after the break to force another Terrier timeout as Western Carolina was four points away from a set-one win.
After the break, the Terriers were able to side-out on the next point to end the run. Western Carolina did not lose control of the set though, ending the opening frame with a 25-20 win following a kill by Morris.
Wofford built a 10-8 lead early in the second set. Western Carolina countered with five straight points, punctuated with a kill by Bailey Hartsough. The Terriers responded with a run of their own to take a 14-13 lead, leading to the Catamounts taking a timeout. Wofford would get another four points after the break, making Western Carolina use its final timeout of the set. The Terriers would not let their lead get lower than four for the rest of the frame, eventually winning 25-19 on a kill by Sarah Barham, a first-team all-conference selection.
The Catamounts jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead in the third set, forcing Wofford to take an early timeout. The Terriers got three straight points out of the break, but it was all Catamounts after that. Western Carolina went on a 6-0 run with Hartsough on the service line to take a 16-5 lead, with Wofford using its final timeout of the frame during that run.
The two teams alternated the next four points before the Catamounts scored four straight points to hold a 21-8 advantage. Western Carolina would eventually end the set with a 25-11 victory following back-to-back kills from Hartsough.
In the fourth set, Wofford held a steady lead through the first half of the frame, leading 15-12 at the media timeout after a kill by Barham. The Terriers kept up their strong play after the break and following back-to-back kills from Addison Foote put Wofford up 19-13, the Catamounts took a timeout.
After the break, Western Carolina cut into the lead. A kill from the Catamounts’ Livi Weidmann made the score 21-17 in favor of Wofford, making the Terriers call a timeout. Wofford pushed the lead up to six when play resumed, but a 4-0 run by Western Carolina made the score 23-21, forcing the Terriers to take their final timeout.
The Catamounts’ run would carry them to match point at 24-23. Western Carolina would have match point once again two points later after a kill from Weidmann, but Wofford would score the next three points to win 27-25, forcing a fifth set.
In the deciding set, Wofford got out to an early advantage, taking a 6-2 lead after a block by Foote. The Catamounts took a timeout after the early onslaught and made a run to get back within one following a block by Eden Punch, which made the score 7-6 in favor of Wofford. Three points later, Punch and Sarah Janourova combined for a block to tie the score at 8-8.
The two squads split the next six points to keep the score tied. Wofford then got a kill from Barham and Western Carolina had an attack error on the next point, forcing the Catamounts to take a timeout with the score sitting at 13-11. Western Carolina would get the next point before kills from Sarah MacLean and Emily Hodsdon ended the set 15-12 and gave Wofford the win.
MacLean finished with a team-high 16 kills. Foote had a double-double for the Terriers, finishing with 12 kills and a team-high 16 digs. Wofford’s Laney Klika had a match-high 33 digs. Hartsough finished with a match-high 22 kills along with 13 digs. Morris logged 20 kills and 26 digs.
2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Championship
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Tuesday, Nov. 14
First Round
Match 1: No. 8 ETSU 3, No. 9 UNCG 1 (at ETSU)
Friday, Nov. 17
Quarterfinals
Match 2: No. 4 Samford 3, No. 5 Furman 2
Match 3: No. 1 The Citadel 3, No. 8 ETSU 0
Match 4: No. 7 Chattanooga 3, No. 2 Mercer 1
Match 5: No. 3 Wofford 3, No. 6 Western Carolina 2
Saturday, Nov. 18
Semifinals
Match 6: No. 4 Samford vs. No. 1 The Citadel, 5 p.m.
Match 7: No. 7 Chattanooga vs. No. 3 Wofford, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 19
Championship
Match 8: Match 6 winner vs. Match 7 winner, 4 p.m.