CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Chattanooga volleyball will head to Birmingham, Ala. Wednesday for its final mid-week game of the season against North Division leading Samford.

The Lady Mocs (13-12, 8-3 Southern) are currently in second place in the North Division, trailing the Bulldogs (21-3, 10-1 Southern) by two games.

This is the second time both squads have faced off, with Samford winning 3-0 back on Oct. 8 in Chattanooga, since then the Lady Mocs have won five of six and are playing some of its best volleyball of the season.

“We are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Head Coach Lisa Rhodes said. “Our offense is going to have to keep playing at a high level though to keep up with them. Playing smart, that is the key, and if we can keep doing that, then we will be in good shape.”

Sophomore Courtney Barnes has been one of the forces for Rhodes’s offense during October. In nine matches during the month, Barnes leads the team in kills per set (3.28) and hitting percentage (3.14).

Cassie Conner and Michaela Huff continue to share time as the team’s setter with Conner leading the team in assists per set (7.24). Lara Newberry continues to play lights-out defense on the season as the libero currently leads the nation in digs per set (6.49).

Samford comes into Wednesday’s match winners of three in a row and still lead a majority of the Southern Conference’s offensive categories.

The Bulldogs lead the SoCon in hitting percentage (.292), kills per set (14.06), assists (13.02), and service aces (1.71). Leading Samford is All-American Ashley Adams with a .341 hitting percentage and, a SoCon leading, 4.20 kills per set.

Hillary Fountain paces the league in assists (11.75) and Courtney Gay is the team’s defensive leader with 3.70 digs per set.

First serve from the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Ala. is schedule for 7 p.m. ET.