Blue Raiders Knock Down Chattanooga in Four Sets

Wednesday, September 12

Chattanooga, Tenn.

5:00 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

-46 (00 CUSA)

Chattanooga

4-7 (0-0SoCon)

MTSU

Chattanooga

9/12/2018 8:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Brendan English, Athletic Communications Assistant

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Freshman Samira Lawson Body recorded her second double-double of the season as the Middle Tennessee volleyball team knocked down Chattanooga in four sets on Wednesday evening.

The Blue Raiders (4-6) took the first two sets over the Mocs (4-7) before storming back to take the fourth and final set over Chattanooga.

Senior Bailey Mason paced the offense with 13 kills while hitting .200 and adding four digs and three service aces. Likewise, Lawson Body contributed 12 kills and 16 digs for the Blue Raiders.

From the middle, sophomore Josie Maxim recorded a career-high nine kills, hitting on a .500 clip.

Leading Middle Tennessee in digs, junior duo Dora Peonia (17) and Brienna Tankesley (16) racked up a combined 33.

The Blue Raiders ended the match with a 15.0 to 5.0 margin in blocks behind eight from freshman Julia Valdez. Likewise, Middle Tennessee served up six service aces compared to the three from Chattanooga.

Chattanooga jumped out early in the first set, creating a 7-1 run over Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders slowly fought back before inking three straight points to tie the score at 17-all. Middle Tennessee built its momentum to take the first set, 25-22, off of a service ace from junior Taylor Hammill.

In the second frame, the Mocs jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the Blue Raiders before the team responded with kills from Lawson Body and Mason to tie the set at 3-all. The Blue Raiders built a five-point lead over the Mocs (16-11), but Chattanooga wouldn't go silently as they came within two on multiple occasions before a Valdez and Hammill block closed out the frame, 25-23.

The Blue Raiders opened the third set with an 8-4 advantage over the Mocs before Chattanooga rallied back to take the third set over Middle Tennessee, 25-23.

Middle Tennessee brought back the pressure in the fourth set with Bailey Mason dominating the outside, recording seven of her 12 kills in the frame. The Mocs attempted to battle back to cut the deficit to two, 23-21, before the Blue Raiders held on taking the final set, 25-22.

Quotable
"Whenever the team was down, we would pull together and reinforce that we can do this. We practice these types of situations in practice and it was time to apply them in the match. From this, we knew what to do and were able to execute it on the court to grab the win tonight". – Samira Lawson Body

"Going into the fourth set, Chuck pulled me aside and told me—even if leaders are down, they have to step up and do great things—which ignited a spark within me that enabled me to go out there with no fear and attack the ball no matter what. This game was definitely the turning point for our team, we were able to battle back for the first time and its really encouraging going into our final non-conference tournament at Wofford this weekend". – Bailey Mason

Up Next
The Blue Raiders travel to Spartanburg, S.C. for their final non-conference tournament of the season, matching up with Gardner-Webb and tournament host Wofford.