Chattanooga, Tenn. – Furman volleyball rallied from a two sets to one deficit to defeat the Chattanooga Mocs, 3-2 (25-27, 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 15-9), on Saturday, in the final match of the regular season. With the win, the Paladins have locked up the #2 seen in next weekend's SoCon Tournament and move to 16-11 (12-4 SoCon), while the Mocs fall to 4-27 (3-13 SoCon). 

Annie Bierman led the Paladins with 21 kills, a .346 hitting percentage and 19 digs for her fifth double-double of the year and second of the weekend. Ashton Gregory added 14 kills and three blocks, Christina Dorismond put down 12 kills and added a team-high four blocks, and Casey Wells added 11 kills. Elle Ross had a team-high 28 digs, while Jo Wilks added 19 digs and 59 assists.

The teams traded runs in set one before, with the score tied at 18, Chattanooga took a two-point lead at 20-18 to force a Furman timeout. The Paladins cut the lead to one at 20-19, but the Mocs stretched their lead to three at 23-20, forcing another Furman timeout. The Paladins then went on a 3-1 run to cut the Moc lead to one at 24-23, forcing a Chattanooga timeout. The Paladins then tied the set at 24 and again at 25, but the Mocs used a kill and a service ace to win set one, 27-25, and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

It was the Paladins that opened up an early 11-3 lead in set two. The Mocs cut the Furman lead to five at 11-6, but the Paladins continued to add to their lead, forcing a Chattanooga timeout at 18-12. Furman closed out the set on a 7-4 run to take set two, 25-16, and tie the match at 1.

The Mocs opened up a 16-11 lead in set three, forcing Furman to take a timeout. The teams traded points until Chattanooga took a 23-19 lead, forcing the Paladins to call another timeout. Furman cut the lead to two at 23-21 and again at 24-22, but Chattanooga got a kill to end the set at 25-22 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Mocs again opened up a big lead in set four, this time at 20-13. Out of a Furman timeout, the Paladins rattled off four straight points to cut the Moc lead to 20-17 and force a Chattanooga timeout. Furman continued to rally, tying the set at 23. Chattanooga took a 24-23 lead, but Furman finished out the set on a 3-0 rally to win set four, 26-24, and force the match to a fifth set.

It was all Furman in set five, as the Paladins opened up a huge 11-3 lead in a set that only goes to 15. Chattanooga out-scored the Paladins 6-4 over the final points of the set, but Furman was able to win set five, 15-9, and take the match, 3-2.

Furman will now wait to find out their opponent for next weekend's SoCon Tournament, which will take play November 22-24 in Timmons Arena. Furman's first-round match will be at 7:00 PM on Friday.