Streaking Lady Mocs volleyball secure first win over ETSU since 2016
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BVM) — The Chattanooga Lady Mocs volleyball team is streaking–breaking and continuing streaks, that is.聽
Tuesday night, UTC defeated ETSU for the first time since 2016, in a match that took all five sets and was palpably intense throughout.
The Mocs dropped the first set 25-23 despite libero Paige Gallentine doing everything she could defensively. The reigning Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week tallied nine digs in the first set, a handful of which were incredible efforts.
The teams continued to alternate points into the second set, and after a 2-0 run by ETSU to go up 20-18, Mocs head coach Travis Filar was forced to call a timeout. From that point forward in the match the tide was turned. UTC went on an instant 3-0 run and never looked back.
They won the third set in dominating fashion, 25-18, fizzled in the fourth set, and then returned to their inspired play in the fifth set, closing things out 15-12.
Energy was the story of the game. In the sets they won, the Mocs were loud and unapologetic. After a massive block by senior Gylian Finch in the third set, even Filar got in on the action, turning to his reserves and letting out a booming, 鈥淟et鈥檚 go!鈥� that encapsulated the joy the team played with.聽
In their losses, however, the team was plagued by lethargy and hushed tones, a condition they鈥檒l find medicine for if they are to keep up their winning.
鈥淎s a coach, you want to see that all the time,鈥� Filar said. 鈥淲e talk all the time, you can鈥檛 control how well the other team serves, you can control some of the contacts that happen on your side, but what you can control all the time, whether things are going well or aren鈥檛, is your effort and your energy.鈥�
While there is still one regular-season game left to be played, this win calls for celebration. Aside from it being the first win against ETSU in five years, it鈥檚 also the fourth win in five games for a young UTC team that鈥檚 been scratching and clawing to get by all year.
鈥淲e said all along from the first day of camp in August we had an opportunity with this group, because of how young we were, to get better every single week, and to be a team that steadily, hopefully climbs and gets better,鈥� Filar said. 鈥淚 think myself and the team are tired of taking it on the chin like we did a lot of the early season. It鈥檚 time for us to give our dose of knockout punches.鈥澛�
The players deserve credit for their perseverance. Back in October, the team went through a stretch of five games winless, only winning two of the 17 total sets. Now, they鈥檙e a team that nobody wants to play. That kind of turnaround takes some real mental fortitude.
While he might be deferential to his players, showering them with credit, Filar and his staff should take a bow as well.
For a large portion of the season, due to injuries, the Mocs have struggled to have even just nine players available for practice–leaving them short for any six-on-six scrimmage possibilities.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 been easy, we鈥檝e had nine healthy kids in practice for a month it seems like,鈥� Filar said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 even go six on six in practice 鈥� It shows the toughness of our group. They鈥檝e gritted and grinded.鈥�
Preparing players to play without being able to simulate game-like situations is a tall task. Having success at the same time is an even more impressive feat that should not go unnoticed.
The Mocs in-conference record currently sits at 6-9, putting them at eighth in the standings. But, with a record pileup in the middle of the standings, UTC is only one game out of fourth place. With one game left in the regular season, a lot would have to happen for the team to rise that far up the rankings.
Going forward the Mocs can only control what they can control. That starts by playing well Saturday against Wofford on senior night. If UTC wins Saturday and gets some extra help in-conference, they could find themselves higher than the 8-seed, which would mean avoiding the SoCon tournament play-in game.
If this happens it will be tangible proof for a team that has hit its stride at the right time. If it doesn鈥檛, that鈥檚 okay too, Either way the team would relish the opportunity to deliver just one more of those knockout punches.
