Chattanooga, Tenn. – Natalie Tyson had a match high 23 kills to lead the Chattanooga Mocs to a 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 25-10, 23-25) victory over the Furman volleyball team in Southern Conference action, Friday evening at Maclellan Gym.

Furman drops to 4-8 on the season and 0-2 in conference play. With the win, Chattanooga improves to 6-9 overall and 1-0 in the league.

Mary Beth Headley nearly missed on a double-double to lead the Paladins with 13 kills and eight digs. Grainne McGrath provided 11 kills and a career high seven blocks (one solo, six assisted). Sarah Turner was also close to a double-double after finishing with 19 assists and seven digs. Defensively, Andrea Aceveda led the team with 14 digs.

Tyson led all players with a double-double of 23 kills and 14 digs for the Mocs while Elaine Redman also recorded a double-double of 42 assists and 10 digs. Kate Neill contributed 11 kills while Halle Olson had nine. Paige Gallentine tied Tyson with 14 digs.

The teams traded the opening 16 points of the first set when Furman tied the score at 8-8 with a kill from Headley. Headley kept the Paladins within two points midway when she put the score at 15-13 on her kill. Chattanooga broke the set open courtesy of a 7-2 run and held a 22-15 advantage, leading to a Furman timeout. The Mocs scored the final three points to win 25-17.

Chattanooga started the second set on an 8-4 run before the Paladins cut their deficit down to 10-9 off a service error. The Mocs extended their lead back to five, 14-9, but Furman followed with another 7-2 run and tied the score at 16-16 when Aceveda capped the scoring with her service ace. Trailing 21-19 late, the Paladins would close out the set on a 6-1 run with Headley registering four kills. Headley was responsible for four of Furman's last five points and her kill secured the 25-22 victory.

The Mocs recorded five of the first seven points in the third set and went on a 13-4 run, leading to a Paladin timeout. McGrath posted back-to-back kills and trimmed the lead down to 20-10. Chattanooga closed out the set on a 5-0 run for the 25-10 triumph.

The Mocs started the fourth set in similar fashion as the third, scoring 10 of the initial 12 points and led 13-4 midway. Chattanooga would go ahead 17-9 before Furman staged a late rally highlighted by an 11-4 run, with McGrath and Morgan Cobb combining for four kills, to trail 21-20 following an attack error by the Mocs. The Paladins stayed within a point three more times with the last coming at 24-23 when McGrath and Mikaela Schultz teamed up for a block. Chattanooga won the set, and match, the following play.

For the second consecutive match, Furman set a new season high with 15 blocks led by McGrath's seven. Sydney Tanner also turned in five unassisted blocks.

The Paladins continue conference play on Saturday afternoon traveling to Johnson City, Tenn. for a 4 p.m. match at East Tennessee State.