GREENSBORO, N.C. – Chattanooga entered Friday's match in Greensboro boasting the top record in the league and a confident demeanor. The Mocs left Fleming Gymnasium with their second conference loss though as UNCG bested UTC 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 26-24, 17-25, 15-12) before a raucous crowd on the Blue and Gold's annual Fight Like a Spartan night.

UNCG's sixth-straight victory kept a number of streaks intact. The Spartans defeated Chattanooga in Greensboro for the eighth-straight time, improved to 16-0 when winning the first set of a match and stayed perfect at home this season at 8-0. UNCG is one of two teams in the league that is unbeaten at home.

In a match fitting two of the best teams in the SoCon, both sides hit over .200 as UTC checked in at .228 and the Spartans finished just behind at .227. UNCG had the advantage in kills (69-64), assists (67-63) and aces (6-4). The Blue and Gold also won the defensive battle in terms of digs (88-82) and blocks (13.0-5.0). The blocking output marked a season high for UNCG. Additionally, the squads finished dead even in sideout percentage at 60 percent.

The Spartans put four players in double figures offensively led by junior Jessica Brezwyn's match-high 18 kills. Sophomore outside Ashley Muench followed closely with 17 and completed a double-double by adding 14 digs. Freshman middle hitter Jasmine Jones put down a career-high 15 kills while redshirt senior middle Julia Westerbur finished with 12. Freshman setter Allison Penner also enjoyed a career-high mark in assists as she tallied 64 to go along with eight digs and five blocks.

On the defensive side, senior outside hitter Lauren Betlach produced a career-high 17 digs while classmate and the SoCon's current top libero Katherine Santiago collected 21. Westerbur tied her personal best with eight blocks (seven assists).

Kristy Wieser and Sarah Batterton led the Mocs offensively with 15 kills apiece while Catherine Chason paced the back row with a match-high 22 digs.

UNCG was the first to establish some breathing room in the first set as the Spartans forced Chattanooga to call timeout after taking an 11-7 lead. A Westerbur kill pushed the Blue and Gold even further in front at 16-10 and the Mocs burned their last timeout of the frame when another Westerbur score made it 17-12. Chattanooga made a push and rallied within 19-16 but a 4-0 Spartan run out of a timeout all but put the set away. A Brezwyn kill gave UNCG the stanza by a comfortable seven-point margin.

The Blue and Gold was the first to call for time in the second set falling behind 10-6. The Spartans were not able to catch up and used their second timeout trailing 15-10. The Mocs looked to be in full control later in the proceedings when an attacking error by Penner made the score 22-14. A Muench kill sparked a 4-0 UNCG run that prompted a timeout from the visitor bench and the Spartans would later pull within 23-21 following a Penner ace. UTC recovered just in time, however, to escape the second set 25-22 and tie the match going into intermission.

The third frame was a back and forth battle early but Chattanooga raced out to a 15-10 advantage to assume control. UNCG scored four straight to pull within a point but a later kill by Briana Reid put the Mocs on the verge of the set as they led 21-18. UTC led by as much as 23-20 late. However, the Spartans had an answer drawing within 23-22 after a big solo block by Muench.

The Mocs had two chances to put the stanza away leading 24-22 but a Jones kill and a Penner ace knotted the score right up at 24. Jones came up huge with a solo block on the next rally and she finished it off with a kill to give UNCG the improbable 26-24 victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.

Looking to stay in the match, Chattanooga broke open a close fourth set score of 11-10 with an 8-2 run to pull in front by seven. The Spartans did not threaten again as the Mocs closed the stanza out 25-17 to send it to the decider.

UTC took an early 3-1 lead following a Spartan service error but UNCG quickly tied it up at three. The teams were deadlocked again at 4-4 before a kill by Betlach and a tandem block by Muench and Westerbur put the Blue and Gold ahead by two. Chattanooga battled back and tied it at seven but an attacking error by Miranda Elpers gave UNCG the lead right back. After the sides switched benches, the Spartans scored the next point on a Muench kill to go ahead 9-7. The teams sided out until the Blue and Gold settled for a 13-11 advantage. Reid hit the ball outside of the antenna to put the Spartans at match point and Brezwyn finished it off with a kill into the open left side of the Chattanooga defense to seal the victory.

UNCG returns to action Saturday hosting Samford at 5 p.m.