Head coach Travis Filar's 2015 volleyball squad comprises of five freshmen coming from successful volleyball clubs and high school programs. The newcomers bring talent to the Mocs at both offense and defense.

The incoming class was named one of the nation's best according to PrepVolleyball.com. UTC was the only Southern Conference team highlighted in this ranking.

"Often when freshmen get here they shrink a little bit," Filar stated. "But this whole group has not let that happen. I don't think we've had as confident or as competitive of a group of freshmen coming in from day one."

On offense, outside hitter Ally Ford (Oakton, Va.) is known for her aggressive arm.

"Ally uses all of her motion and athleticism in that hitting motion," Filar said. "It's a thing of beauty to watch her attacking."

Ford led her volleyball team at Flint Hill High School to three state championships.

"She was the go-to player on pretty much every one of those teams," Filar explained. "You can rely on her. When it gets tight and when you need a big swing, she's going to be one that never shies away from that moment."

Ford's resume includes being honored as a two-time All-Met Performer named by the Washington Post and Division I Virginia Independent School Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2013. She was also named the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014-15, in addition to three-time All-State honors.

Fellow outside hitter Miranda Elpers (Louisville, Ky.) comes from Assumption High School and the Kentucky-Indiana Volleyball Academy, both known nationally as championship volleyball programs. She was named to the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-State and Kentucky High School Athletic Association All-Region Team in 2014, in addition to two all-tournament team recognitions. Throughout her high school career, she recorded 641 kills, 52 blocks, 60 aces and 189 digs.

"Miranda has created an arsenal of attacking," Filar said. "She can hit every shot in the book."

In high school, Elpers was recruited as an outside hitter and a libero, including a few "power five" schools. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches, she has often been viewed as too short to hit.

"She knew she wanted to hit," Filar explained. "Miranda thrives going against bigger blockers because of the mental toughness she's gained by being an undersized hitter."

As a middle blocker that could possibly become a right-side hitter as well, Emily Plumlee (Chesapeake, Va.) brings a natural instinct to block and takes up good space at the net.

"Emily is ready to be a dominant blocker in college," Filar stated. "As a freshman, you don't say that a lot because blocking is one of the skills that progressively gets better as a career goes on."

Plumlee earned MVP in 2013 and two-time Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014 for her high school team, Hickory High. She was also named three-time first team All-District and All-Tidewater, in addition to being All-State in 2013.

"She has a really fast arm," Filar said. "As an attacker, she is solid. She reminds me a lot of Lauren Gainer (Boca Raton, Fla.) when she came in as a freshmen."

Moving to the defensive specialists and liberos, we look to Lindsey Farrell (Bartlett, Tenn.) and Rachel Petkosh (Merritt Island, Fla.).

The lone Tennessee-native on the team, Farrell led the Bartlett High School team in digs with 278 her senior year. She was named three-time Best of Preps honoree and made it on the All-District 14-AAA team from 2011 to 2014 and All-Region squad from 2012 to 2014.

"Lindsey competes with a very cool, collected confidence," Filar stated. "For a libero to show that is important because you don't get the glory at that position. You're doing a lot of the dirty work, but she takes a lot of pride in that and competes really well in that role."

Then, there is Petkosh, who has a unique tie with the UTC volleyball program, being from Merritt Island High, the same high school as alumna Paula Passamore. Filar coached Passamore his first two season at Chattanooga.

"Paula is one of the most decorated players to come through this program," Filar said. "It's neat because Rachel looked up to her and tried to model how she played and how she was a teammate to what she saw in Paula. This meant something to me because of how much I appreciate what Paula did while she was here."

Petkosh held the starting libero position all four years in high school. She currently holds the school record for career digs with 1,656. Additionally, Petkosh was a three-time Cape Coast All-Conference Team honoree and USAV All-American.

"Rachel is going to direct traffic in the back court," Filar stated. "She's very confident in the role of telling people where they need to be and what they need to do and saying it in a way that those teammates actually go and do it."

The five freshmen bring an edge to the team offensively and defensively as the Mocs prepare to kick off the 2015 season.

UTC opens the year with the Chattanooga Classic presented by Hampton Inn & Suites (Downtown Chattanooga) in Maclellan Gym August 28-29. The first match is against Valparaiso at 6 p.m. Admission is free.