Chattanooga, Tenn. – The Furman volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (14-25, 22-25, 17-25) decision to the Chattanooga Mocs in Southern Conference play, Thursday evening inside Maclellan Gym.
Furman falls to 7-13 on the season and 2-8 in conference play, while Chattanooga improves to 7-17 overall and 3-8 in the league.
Neci Harris led the Paladins offensively with 10 kills while
Sarah Turner recorded her seventh double-double of the season on 21 assists and 10 digs.
Bella Tolone provided eight kills, along with
Natalie Dunn, and 10 digs.
Ella Abraham contributed 13 assists and
Andrea Aceveda nine digs.
Maia Rackel had a game-high 11 kills for the Mocs, and Sophia Bossong posted a double-double of 34 assists and 12 digs. Paige Gallentine led all players with 20 digs.
The teams exchanged the opening 10 points of the first set and Furman tied the score at 5-5 when Dunn connected on a kill. Harris kept the Paladins within one, 11-10, several plays later on a kill. Chattanooga closed out the set on a 14-4 run and won 25-14 when Chloe Bryan and Marcelle Baez-Carlo combined for a block.
Tolone gave Furman an early 2-1 lead to begin the second set following a kill and Dunn later evened the score at 4-4 with her kill. The Paladins stayed within three points throughout the early stages and cut their deficit down to 9-7 on
Sydney Tanner's kill. The Mocs broke the set open courtesy of a 9-5 run and took an 18-12 lead late. Furman rallied back with a 9-3 run of its own and tied the score at 21-21 off a bad set by Chattanooga. The Mocs recorded four of the last five points, capped by Gylian Finch's kill, for the 25-22 victory.
Dunn put the Paladins in front, 4-3, early in the third set with a kill that followed ones by Tolone, Harris and
Chandler Parker.
Kelsey Watkins would later tie the score at 5-5 after recording a kill, and Tolone kept Furman within one, 7-6, on her kill. Chattanooga would go ahead by four until a ball handling error midway made the score 13-12. The Mocs followed by going on a 7-1 run and extended their lead to 20-13, forcing the Paladins into a timeout. Furman got as close as seven points twice with the last coming at 24-17 on Harris' kill. Chattanooga captured the set, and match, the following play.
The Paladins concluded the match with 57 digs, 36 kills and 35 assists. Harris led Furman with three total blocks (two assisted, one solo) while Tolone and Dunn both added one assisted block.
The Paladins travel to East Tennessee State on Friday evening for a 6 p.m. contest.
