CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Behind 13 blocks and Abbey Richman's 23 digs, the Wofford volleyball team controlled the match Saturday evening in Maclellan Gym to the tune of a straight-set sweep (25-23, 25-16, 25-18) over the Chattanooga Mocs. Wofford's winning streak extends to seven matches in a row, improving the Terriers' record to 11-2 (2-0 SoCon). The Mocs fall to 11-5 (0-2 SoCon).
 
After sweeping Mercer last night, Wofford has made program history by opening SoCon play with back-to-back sweeps for the first time ever. This helps extend Wofford's best start to a season since 2009 (13-2). This is the first Terrier road win at Chattanooga since November 2017 and the first road sweep of the Mocs since November 2013.
 
"I think it gives us a lot of confidence, the fact that we can go into other people's gyms and really maintain our style of volleyball and keep composure while still getting after it," said senior Abbey Richman of the conference-opening road sweeps. "I think going into other people's gyms, there's a lot of pressure because they have their fans and it's their home court, so making sure that we're playing our style of volleyball and that we're getting after it and bringing a lot of energy gives us a lot of confidence."
 
Wofford controlled the match through the service line and net-minding efforts, as the Terriers topped the Mocs 8-3 in aces and 13-7 in blocks. Abbey Richman accounted for half of Wofford's aces, with her four a new career high. Addison Foote and Mary Emily Morgan each added a pair. Sarah Barham and Millie Loehr both totaled six blocks, with three of Barham's being solo. Sarah MacLean contributed five blocks of her own.
 
The Terriers also topped the Mocs in kills, 37-32. For a second-straight match, Wofford utilized a balanced attack with no player owning double-digit kills because five had at least five. Mary Emily Morgan and Sarah MacLean each totaled eight, and Sarah Barham's seven were right behind. Addison Foote notched six, and Millie Loehr boasted five.
 
Emily Hodsdon dished 19 assists to lead the squad, and Taylor Pecht added 16 helpers of her own. Abbey Richman accrued 23 digs, extending her double-digit streak to 34 matches. This gives the senior libero 43 total digs between the weekend's two matches.
 
"I think my teammates have a lot to do with it. I mean, my block is working really hard to get a good set up so it's easy for me to play around them and to dig the ball," said Richman of her defensive success. "And I think that the coaches have really instilled in us the mentality of making sure that no ball hits the floor. And I'm doing everything I can to put my team in a good position to score. That's just kind of the mentality, and my teammates are doing everything that they can to make sure we're getting good ups on defense."
 
Set one was a tight, back-and-forth battle for second-straight match. Down 10-8, Sarah Barham put home a kill to kick start a four-point run that featured a pair of Abbey Richman aces, pushing the Terriers in front 12-10. Chattanooga fought back and led again 16-15, but Annemarie Rakoski added a kill to start another four-point swing. Mary Emily Morgan's block was followed by a Barham kill, giving Wofford a 19-16 edge. The Mocs kept fighting, but Sarah MacLean brought about set point, 24-22. Despite a Chattanooga kill, the Terriers took advantage of a Moc service error to claim set one, 25-23.
 
Though falling behind 2-0 in set two, the Terriers responded in big fashion. A pair of Moc errors began a seven-point Terrier run, setting the tone for the rest of the set. Sarah Barham was in a groove during the run, accounting for two blocks and a pair of kills. The Mocs chipped away to pull within two, 17-15, but Sarah MacLean notched a kill to start another Terrier run, this one six points. Two more Abbey Richman aces alongside a pair of Addison Foote kills helped lift the Terriers to a 23-15 advantage. Not long thereafter, Annemarie Rakoski put down the set-clinching kill for the 25-16 win, pulling Wofford within one set of triumph.
 
The Mocs showed no quit, opening set three with a 6-2 lead. But Millie Loehr tallied a kill to spark the Terriers, who ran to claim a 7-6 lead. Though Chattanooga then tied the set once more, Addison Foote recorded another kill followed by a Moc error for the 9-7 edge. The sides traded some blows, but the Terriers remained ahead 18-15. Then a Chattanooga service error led to back-to-back Addison Foote aces, and Mary Emily Morgan added a kill for good measure, punctuating a four-point swing to give Wofford a 22-15 advantage. Though the Mocs put forth a last-ditch effort to claw back, the Terriers staved off their efforts as Sarah Barham closed the match with a kill, sealing the set, 25-18, and Wofford's sweep.
 
After opening SoCon play with a pair of road straight-setters, the Terriers will return home next weekend for the first two SoCon matches in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The conference home opener is Thursday, September 28, at 6:00 p.m. against rival Furman. The following night will see Samford come to town with that match also set for a 6:00 p.m. start.