As the 2015 season approaches for the Chattanooga volleyball team, head coach Travis Filar looks to the sophomore class as a mature bunch despite being underclassmen.

"It's funny to say this about sophomores, but I really think they're a lot more mature than a normal sophomore class," Filar stated.  "I don't have to worry about them as sometimes I've had to worry about sophomore classes in the past."

It's made up of two setters, a middle blocker/right-side attacker and a libero/defensive specialist.

The setting position is in a heated competition among two talented sophomores, Lauren Greenspoon (Houston, Texas) and Madison Bergren (Muncie, Ind.).

"It's not ideal to have your two setters in the same class," Filar explained. "But I don't think I could have picked two better people and student-athletes. It's not easy having the person you're competing with for court time in the same class as you, and you're going to be together for the next three years."

Greenspoon made her collegiate debut for the Mocs with a team-high of 616 assists, averaging 5.45 per set last season. She also posted 204 digs, recording six or more in all but seven matches.

"Lauren's an undersized setter, but she makes up for that by being a very dynamic athlete with a great first step to the ball," Filar said. "We've tried to quicken our offense as well, and naturally she's taken on that challenge."

Near the end of spring training, Greenspoon suffered a wrist injury.

"She has come back better than ever," Filar stated. "She is really understanding the decision-making part of the game more this year, and that's what you expect, a year older, a year wiser."

The other setter is a new addition to the squad. Bergren, a student-athlete Filar recruited out of high school, transferred from UT Martin this year.

"What Madison brings to us big time is her consistency of being able to always put hitters in good positions," Filar said. "But also even if the ball is a little bit off the net, she can still keep that fast tempo we're trying to run with our hitters."

Bergren gained a lot of experience at UT Martin running a five-one for the majority of her freshman season. She played in 104 sets as a Skyhawk, posting an impressive average of 8.99 assists per set, 169 digs, 15 blocks and 103 kills.

Moving on to a middle blocker and right-side attacker, Eden Murray (Hoschton, Ga.) played in 38 total sets her freshman year.

"We had some injuries in key times, in key conference matches last year and Eden really stepped up."

Her best performance was against Stetson, which included six kills in 10 attempts with no errors, three digs and five blocks, racking up 8.5 points.

Murray tore her hip labrum, causing her to miss all of spring training but is now back on the court.

"I'm getting a new look at Eden," Filar explained. "She's come back very solid, very strong. She offensively gives us a spark and provides good attacking and an ability to go off two feet in front of the setter but also off one foot behind the setter."

As a libero and defensive specialist, Maddie Marshall (Springfield, Mo.) saw action in 21 sets during her first year.

"Maddie's passing and her ability to defensively take hard driven balls has improved," Filar said.

Her season highs from last year included seven digs and two services aces against Mississippi Valley State.

"What's great about Maddie is she's so coachable," Filar stated. "When you tell her once, she's going to work as hard as she possibly can to get it right the next time."

The four student-athletes making up the sophomore class show a sense of maturity not typically found in second-years.

UTC opens the season with the Chattanooga Classic presented by Hampton Inn & Suites (Downtown Chattanooga) in Maclellan Gym August 28-29. The tournament is the first three of a 14-match home slate. Admission is free.