UTC picked a close second in SoCon volleyball and more regional sports news

Assorted Sports Equipment on Black
Assorted Sports Equipment on Black

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's volleyball team got three first-place votes and was picked to finish second to Furman in the Southern Conference this season, the league announced Monday. UTC senior frontline players Allie Davenport and Kristy Wieser were voted by the SoCon head coaches to the eight-player preseason all-conference team. They were first-team All-SoCon last year, when the Mocs went 26-6, 13-3 in the SoCon, and won the regular-season title. They were tournament runners-up to Furman (21-9, 12-4), which got five first-place votes and 61 points to UTC's 59 in the preseason voting. Samford got 46 with one first, UNC Greensboro was fourth with 45, East Tennessee State and Wofford tied for fifth with 34, and Mercer, Western Carolina and The Citadel were seventh through ninth. UNCG and ETSU matched UTC with two preseason all-conference picks, while Furman returns 2015 kills leader and player of the year Annie Bierman.

Golf

* Despite the departures of All-Americans Julia McQuilken and Erika Wardzinski, the Dalton State women's golf team remains experienced and strong going into the 2016-17 season. Two-time All-American Caroline Griffin and 2016 All-American Katie Dalton return along with seniors Rachel Rebne and Carly Shane from coach Jim McGrew's 2016 Southern States Athletic Conference tournament lineup, and Florida multisport high school standout Haejin Choe joins the group after redshirting last year. So do three talented newcomers from the high school ranks: Georgia AAAAA all-staters Hannah Gasaway from McDonough and Isabel Rijos from Columbus along with Tia Teiniketo from Finland by way of Baylor School. Transfers Heather Nail, a two-time NAIA All-American at Mobile, and Michelle Edwards will sit out this season. It opens Sept. 6-7 at the SCAD-Atlanta Fall Invitational at The Oaks Course in Covington, Ga.

Boxing

* A reunion of area Golden Gloves boxers from all eras will be held Saturday at the Luken sports facility behind Red Bank High School, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hot dog meals and drinks will be provided for the boxers and their families. Anyone with questions can call Skipper Fairbanks at 877-4113.

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