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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Wofford volleyball team needed a victory against Chattanooga and for UNCG to defeat Davidson Friday night to clinch its first Southern Conference Tournament berth since 2006
 
The Terriers got both, first defeating Chattanooga (4-25, 3-12 SoCon) in straight sets (25-23, 25-17, 25-18) on the road inside Maclellan Gym. About 90 minutes later, they celebrated on the bus as head coach Ron Sweet delivered the news of Wofford advancing to the Southern Conference Tournament.
 
Adding to the night, with her father watching along on his birthday, senior Amanda Liguori became the school's all-time leader in kills, finishing with a match-high 17 to surpass the record of 1,237 set by Andrea Duke (2001, 2003-04). The record breaker came as the first kill of the third set and Coach Sweet called a timeout to let the senior outside hitter take in the moment.
 
"Going into the match, I knew I needed nine, but I didn't know how many I had after the first set," Liguori said. "It was special to have my dad in the stands and for it to be on his birthday. I am so thankful to Coach Sweet for calling a timeout. It really meant a lot."
 
The special night continued as the Terriers (13-17, 7-8 SoCon) learned they would be competing in the postseason. For Liguori and Wofford's group of five seniors, it is something they have wanted for four years.
 
"We all wanted it so bad," Liguori added. "This group of seniors wanted to do something we have never done before, and I'm happy not only for us, but for our coaches as well. If we play our game, nobody can stop us."
 
After a 0-3 start to the SoCon season, the Terriers have posted a 7-5 league record. The seven SoCon wins are the most by the program since 2005, when 18 matches were played and Wofford went 7-11.
 
Leading the Terriers to the postseason for the first time in seven years will be first-year head coach, Ron Sweet.
 
"I am so proud of this team for fighting all season and continuing to get better," Sweet said. "It was definitely a rough start to the season, but these girls know how much they have improved and deserve to be in the postseason."
 
All five seniors on the Terrier squad were part of the win. Along with Liguori's 17 kills, Wendy Burnett hit .450 on the evening with 10 kills and setter Bekah Dorsey had 39 assists, seven digs, three aces and three blocks. Tara Gough had eight digs and an assist, while Lucy Reser got on the stat sheet with a block.
 
The first set was the closest of the night with eight ties and three lead changes. Burnett was a perfect on her six attack attempts, slamming home six kills to help Wofford edge it by two. A 15-15 tie saw Wofford go on the first big run, scoring four of the next five points to take the first three-point lead by either side, 19-16. Following a Chattanooga timeout, Liguori put down one of her four first-set kills, extending the lead to 20-16. The Mocs fought back, cutting the deficit to a point at 22-21 and again at 23-22, but an Allie Davenport attack error gave the Terriers two chances at the set. They converted on the second, as Baird knocked down her third kill of the set to earn Wofford a 25-23 set win.
 
The second was Wofford's best attacking set of the night. The Terriers hit .429 with 17 kills to just two errors, outhitting Chattanooga's nine kills and .207 attack percentage. Freshman Ellie Tallman led the way with five kills on six attempts, and Liguori had four kills as Wofford cruised to an eight-point win. After Chattanooga took the opening point, the Terriers took the next six with Tallman putting down three kills. It was all Wofford needed, taking its biggest lead of eight points at 16-8, and going on to lead by as many on three more occasions.
 
The third belonged to Liguori, securing the Wofford all-time kills record on her first swing of the set and going on to tally nine.
 
"I called a timeout so she could enjoy the moment," Sweet said. "She has given so much to this program and deserves every accolade she gets."
 
The Terriers found themselves in a battle through the rest of the set. The third saw eight ties and Chattanooga taking a 16-14 lead, but Liguori carried the Terriers with three consecutive kills to spark a 6-0 run and put Wofford ahead 20-16. UTC scored just two points the rest of the way and a Dorsey ace ended the night, ultimately sending the Terriers back to the Southern Conference Tournament for the first time in seven years.
 
The Wofford volleyball team closes out the regular season on Saturday, taking on Samford from the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Ala. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m., ET.
 
Terrier Notes
- Wofford clinched its first Southern Conference Tournament berth since 2006.
- Amanda Liguori became Wofford's all-time leader in kills, marking number 1,238 as the first kill of the third set.
- Wofford won its seventh Southern Conference game, the most it has won since going 7-11 in 2005.
- Liguori had a match-high 17 kills, marking the 60th time in her career she has posted double figures.
- Jessica Graham had a match-high 17 digs.
- Bekah Dorsey had a match-high 39 assists.