Senior middle blocker Courtney Barnes was selected to the Jayhawk Classic All-Tournament Team. She posted 34 kills, a 3.04 kills per set average, and hit .342, while recording nine digs and five blocks. The blocks and kills paced the Lady Mocs during the two-day event. It was the third honor in the past two seasons for the Franklin, Tenn., native.
DIGGING UP THE COMPETITION
In all three matches of the Jayhawk Classic, the Lady Mocs recorded more digs then their opponents, which included a season-high 66 against Arkansas. Sophomore Libero Paula Passmore has been on an impressive streak so far posting a match-high in digs during each of the six contests this season. She has registered 112 digs so far good enough to the lead the SoCon with a 5.60 average.
OUTHITTING THE JAYHAWKS
One bright spot during the Jayhawk Classic was that Chattanooga out-hit host Kansas in each of the there sets the teams played, which included the Lady Mocs hitting above .300 in the second and third frames, while only committing a combined six errors. Chattanooga compiled a .325 average in the second and converted on 16 kills, while had 13 kills and hit .312 in the final frame. Interestingly enough, the Lady Mocs pushed Kansas into extra games of the first set and had three chances to clinch it before falling 29-27.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE VS. RAZORBACKS
Senior setter Bailee Chastain recorded her 16th career double-double registering 50 assists and 15 digs. The 50 assists were the most, since Chastain recorded 68 in the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament back in 1997 at Maclellan Gym stepping in after an injury to the starting setter. She also came within one dig of posting a career-high, which occurred last season vs. Elon. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native compiled two blocks solos in the match a career-high.
LEADER OF THE TEAM
Following the second tournament of the season Barnes leads the team in kills (51), kills per set (2.55), attack percentage (.322) and total blocks (0.50). She has been the most consistent player on the squad over the past three seasons and currently ranks third in hitting percentage all-time with the Lady Mocs at .300.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE AGAINST ARKANSAS
The Lady Mocs began playing their game against Arkansas to open the Jayhawk Classic in Lawrence, Kan. Chattanooga dropped the first set, but posted 12 kills without an error compiling a season-high .750 attacking percentage during the second frame winning its first set of the season 25-15. The momentum continued for the Lady Mocs as they registered 15 kills and only two errors in the third set for a .406 percentage in downing the Razorbacks 25-20. Chattanooga forced 15 Arkansas mistakes during those two frames as three players Passmore, Chastain and senior right side Jessica Scott each hit double digits in digs. After the intermission, the Razorbacks adjusted and blocked six Lady Mocs' attacks and forced 11 mistakes in the fourth set tying the match at two, 25-19. Arkansas showed its depth in the fifth set posting eight kills without an error, a .400 attacking percentage, on its way to a 15-11 match win.
FOUR LADY MOCS HIT DOUBLE-DIGITS IN KILLS
Junior middlde blocker Ellie Kuhn, sophomore outside hitter Heather Parman, freshman outside hitter Jennifer Kuroski and Barnes each posted season-highs in kills vs. Arkansas. Kuhn set a career-high with 14 and compiled a .522 attacking percentage, while Parman's 14 was her best performance since 21 kills in the season opening tournament against James Madison last season. Barnes recorded 13, while Kuroski added in 11 as the Lady Mocs posted 58 kills, setting a season-high.
KUROSKI CONTINUES TO IMPRESS
The Lady Mocs have seen Kuroski become more familiar with the college game, since the Lady Vol Classic. The Acworth, Ga., native has become more consistent and cut down on errors over the past three matches. She recorded season high in kills (11) against Arkansas and digs (11) at Kansas this weekend.
KOSYCARZ GETS FIRST OPPORTUNITY
Minus concluded two sets at the Lady Vol Classic, freshman left-handed setter Tess Kosycarz was given a chance against Akron and recorded a team-high 15 assists, which was a season-high. She also registered three kills and a block solos, all her first of her career. The Temecula, Calif., native recorded four asissts and three digs at the Lady Vol Classic.
PASSMORE NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
Passmore registered 54 digs en route to all-tournament honors at the Comcast Lady Vol Classic. Chattanooga was taken out in straight sets in each match as the libero recorded an impressive 6.00 digs per set average. The Merritt Island, Fla., native was also named all-tournament following a 67-dig performance at the 2009 Country Inns & Suites Invitational in Chattanooga. It included 33 digs in a three-set loss to Austin Peay.
FRESHMAN CONTRIBUTIONS
The Lady Mocs are young with 11 underclassmen on the roster. Kuroski posted 15 kills and 13 digs in the season opening tournament. She registered seven kills and six digs against Virginia Tech in her collegiate debut. Also, freshmen outside hitter Andrea Johnson record a dig and Kosycarz had four assists and three digs to begin the campaign.
GAINING EXPERIENCE
Chattanooga has the toughest non-conference schedule in the Southern Conference out of the gate with opening at the Comcast Lady Vol Classic and dropping matches to Virginia Tech, No. 19 Tennessee and Xavier. Next, the Lady Mocs battle Arkansas, Akron and Kansas at the Jayhawk Classic. Head coach Lisa Rhodes believes that her team has an opportunity to learn by overcoming obstacles and come together as they head into conference play.
CHASTAIN'S THE SETTER
Senior setter Bailee Chastain has been a joy to coach for head coach Lisa Rhodes, but the Chattanooga, Tenn., native knew that this preseason camp may be the toughest. Rhodes brought in freshman Tess Kosycarz to push Chastain. She has shown her courtship, knowledge of the offense and encouragement for the young outside hitters, while earning the starting job. With 1,227 career assists, Chastain ranks 10th all-time at UTC. As a sophomore, she filled a reserve hitter role and has shown her versatility.
LIBERO PASSMORE LOOKS FOR MORE
Following in the footsteps of a legend can be difficult, freshman Paula Passmore did an effective job last season in replacing Lara Newberry, the NCAA single-season (942) and career digs (3,176) leader. Now, Passmore has the chance to learn from a legend as Newberry is a student assistant coach working primarily on the defensive aspects of the game. Passmore was tabbed to the SoCon All-Freshman Team last season pacing the league with 542 digs. It was the fifth-straight year that the Chattanooga libero led the league in digs.
CHATTANOOGA RETURNS FIVE
A YEAR WISER FOR FIVE
Sophomores Kirsten Beasley, Meagan Ernd, Heather Parman, Paula Passmore and Christina Teter each have a year under their belts. The three outside hitter Beasley, Earnd and Parman along with libero received substantial playing time as first year player. After a strong spring and summer in the weight room, the sophomore class is prepared for another season. The players took time in learning their positions and perfected their shot making abilities.
SIX TRUE-FRESHMAN ENTER THE SEASON
Last season, the Lady Mocs played four freshman in its season opening tournament in Moorehead, Ky. Going into this season, head coach Lisa Rhodes would like to see her experienced players to step up, but look for a couple of new faces outside hitters Jennifer Kuroski and Andrea Johnson along with setter Tess Kosycarz to get an opportunity during the first couple tournaments.
CHATTANOOGA PICKED FIFTH
The Lady Mocs were selected to finish fifth in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The team completed the 2009 campaign in the same position at 12-17 overall and 4-12 in the SoCon. Samford and College of Charleston are the preseason favorites to win the north and south divisions, respectively.
