CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball team began its spring schedule on March 4 with a scrimmage at Georgia Tech. Head Coach Travis Filar definitely saw some positive results with the changes that the coaching staff have been implementing from a training perspective.

"Since starting team practice, we have been putting in new stuff offensively, and have changed our blocking and team defensive systems," said Filar. "With only having six team practices before traveling to Georgia Tech, I was really pleased with our team's play overall. I thought that the positive energy that all of our student-athletes brought to the floor in our scrimmage was awesome. I noticed it especially in how hard we fought for every point, which is a direct result in how we are training in the gym."

The Mocs may have dropped each set of the five frame match, but did put up a fight scoring 18 points and 16 points twice against a very solid Yellow Jackets team.

"Georgia Tech is a very physical and athletic team that is well-coached, so it was a great first test for our team," said Filar. "Minus the fifth set, I thought we were very competitive. When we were in system and running our fast and efficient offense, we were hard to slow down. "

One of the areas that the coaching staff focused on in the first part of spring practice has been the blocking game. Middle blockers senior Christina Teter (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) and sophomore Kasey Talley (Boiling Springs, S.C.) made an impact at the net.

"I was impressed with how many balls that were blocked or touched against a high-level attacking team," said Filar. "Both Talley and Teter were go-to players and contributed to our success attacking and blocking at the net."

Chattanooga used an aggressive service game that really challenged an experienced Georgia Tech squad, but there were also areas that Coach Filar saw that still need improvement going forward in the spring.

"Our focus this week in practice is to become better defensively, when we know the ball is going to go our opponents' pin hitters," said Filar. "That was a weakness that Georgia Tech exploited as the match went on."

Another area that has impressed Coach Filar early on in the spring is the new energy that the players have shown.

"The team as a whole has a different attitude that includes the ability to control their emotion and they are all bringing a consistent level of positive energy each day to practice," said Filar. "Most importantly, they are having fun playing volleyball. The coaching staff has noticed the changes made by the student-athletes in the gym and weight room. We are successfully changing our program's culture, competitiveness, and chemistry this spring. The challenge still remains to not be satisfied, and to remain confident in each other. If we respect this process, then we are all going to be better for it."

Chattanooga continues its spring schedule on March 23 at Lee University with the first serve schedule for 4 p.m. The spring for the Mocs wraps up on April 15 with the annual Alumni Match at 3 p.m. at Maclellan Gym. Coach Filar and his staff will be conducting a free coaching clinic that day for area coaches beginning at 1 p.m.

The Mocs volleyball camps are on the schedule this summer with all the information available at ChattanoogaVolleyballCamps.com. A brochure also can be viewed through the link at the top of the page.