UTC Volleyball Adds Six Signees To Roster

  • Friday, December 4, 2020

The Chattanooga Mocs volleyball program and head coach Travis Filar have finalized its latest signing class following the early signing period in November. In total, six student-athletes have inked their commitment to UTC for the 2021 season.

 

All six signees will make their way to Chattanooga from different home states and territories.

Arkansas, Georgia, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Texas are all represented in this class.

 

2021 Class: Liz Tomlin (NE), Aleya Kennedy (AR), Chloe Bryan (TN), Marcelle Bàez-Carlo (PR), Chandler Alter (GA) & Macy Nugent (TX).

 

A well-rounded class both athletically and academically, Filar is proud of what his staff was able to accomplish in securing commitments during a tough year for recruiting around the country.

 

“Recruiting amid a pandemic and dead period since March 2020, has of course been challenging and we as a coaching staff have had to become very creative in our efforts to continue to bring in the best of the best, and I believe we did just that in our 2021 class,” said Filar.

“A lot of credit needs to go to our athletic department support staff (Scott Dayton in Academics, and Rhonda Watts & Tyler Raborn in Athletic Performance), my assistant coaches, Darin Van Horn & Juliana Yensho, and especially my other assistant coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Scott Carter, who came up with an intentional plan to strengthen our connection with our top recruits and their families, and to be consistent in our communication.”

One thing is certain about the program Filar has established here in the Scenic City; building a championship culture along with a strong family dynamic. This class fits the mold.

“It was then my final goal for this class to be very clear in my message to these young women, and that was that we are building towards championships once again here at Chattanooga Volleyball,” added Filar.

“Although this class, as a whole, will not come in with as many awards and accolades as our 2020 class, they are an outstanding group of high character teammates, incredibly hard-working and tough competitors, and by far the most athletic class with as much potential as we have ever signed in my 10 years here at Chattanooga.”

Full recruit information and quotes on each individual from Filar can be found below.

 

Liz Tomlin – 5’9 – L – Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Southwest HS)

? 2019 All-Conference, 2018 & 2019 All-City selection

? 2x Nebraska HS State Qualifier, 2x Academic All-Conference selection

? Club: VCN

 

FILAR ON TOMLIN: “We have added another outside hitter who has converted to the libero position in club, similar to that of Paige [Gallentine] and Emma [Perkins] in our 2020 class. Liz possesses a high level of understanding of angles, which combined with her quickness and length, and playing in one of the most competitive states when it comes to junior volleyball, makes her an elite passer and defender who can positively affect the outcome of points with her ball control.”

 

Aleya Kennedy – 6’1 – OH/MB/RS – Scott, Ark. (North Little Rock HS)

? 2020 Arkansas 6A Conference Champion

? 2020-21 Student Body President, Principal’s Honor Roll

? Club: 501 Volley

 

FILAR ON KENNEDY: “We were very fortunate to have seen Aleya the first weekend we could be out when the 2020 club season began, which happened to be a few weeks before it got shut down. We were immediately drawn to the fire she competes with, how fluid, strong, and explosive she is as an athlete, how high she plays above the net, and her versatility as an attacker, in that she can score from anywhere on the court, at any position, and any tempo. She is a dominant force at the net as a blocker and has the physical tools and skill set to impact us on the court right away.”

 

Chloe Bryan – 6’2 – RS/MB – Arlington, Tenn. (Briarcrest HS)

? 3x TSSAA State Champion at Briarcrest (three-straight)

? 2020 Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA Phenom List 2017-2019

? Club: Juniors

 

FILAR ON BRYAN: “We have always stated that we want to bring in the best players in our home state, and we have done just that with the addition of Chloe. She is a 4-year starter for volleyball powerhouse Briarcrest Christian School, played in 4 State Championship matches, winning the last 3, and has been trained by one of the best HS coaches in the entire state, so Chloe will be ready to work and compete at a super high level. She is a dynamic and long athlete, consistent point scorer as an attacker, shut-down blocker, and can play anywhere in the front row, in addition to coming in with setting experience as she ran a 6-2 this past fall during her senior year in high school.”

 

Marcelle Baez-Carlo – 6’2 – MB – Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (Bayamon Military Academy)

? Puerto Rico U20 & U18 National Team member

? All-Puerto Rico Buzzer Beater Volleyball List selection 2020

? Club: Guaynabo Mets

 

FILAR ON BAEZ-CARLO: “The beautiful territory of Puerto Rico has already shared with us an incredible member of our Chattanooga Volleyball Family in 2016 graduate, Julimar Alvarado, and it was this connection that helped in our communication and relationship built with Marcelle and her family. Marcelle has a smile, attitude of appreciation, and joy for life and the game of volleyball that will positively impact our program for years to come. In addition, her international experience over the years against some of the best teams in the world as a member of Puerto Rico’s National Team will be so valuable as we look for her to be a physical presence at the net as a true middle blocker.”

 

Chandler Alter – 5’7 – OH/DS – Powder Springs, Ga. (McEachern HS)

? 2x All-Region 3-7AAAAAAA selection, All-County Honorable Mention

? 2x National Champion at AAU level 2018-2019

? Club: Cobb Atlanta Juniors

 

FILAR ON ALTER: “Chandler is another athlete who can fill many roles in our program, and her confidence, competitiveness, and willingness to do whatever it takes to win will continue to increase something we always look for in additions to our program, and that is an internal grit and driven mindset. Although an undersized outside hitter, Chandler’s arm, jumping ability, volleyball IQ, toughness, and ball control to play 6-rotations makes up for any lack of height, and I think she gives us not only added depth at the outside position but also as a defensive specialist who can also score points with a wicked serve.”

 

Macy Nugent – 5’9 – S – College Station, Texas (College Station HS)

? PrepVolleyball.com Phenom 79 Honorable Mention, 2x All-District selection

? 2x Academic All-District selection, graduated Summa Cum Laude

? Club: Houston Skyline

 

FILAR ON NUGENT: “With the early graduation in December of senior setter, Maddie Halsey, and our season being moved to the spring, we knew most likely we would have one setter in the gym this January, which makes having competitive practices and game preparation difficult. Sometimes things just have a way of working out when you do things the right way, and the quick recruitment of Macy, which was aided by her previous relationship with graduating senior Bailey Bennett (both from College Station HS), although super late in the cycle, is an example of that and we are so thankful for her believing in our program. Macy will make us better right away as she will be graduating high school early and joining us this January, and even though she will not be eligible to compete in matches this spring because of new NCAA legislation, we can still train and compete at a high level in our gym since we will now have two setters in practice, which is essential to our team’s improvement this spring and moving forward. Macy is a very athletic, hard-working, defensive-minded setter who is extremely selfless, in that she will do whatever is necessary for her team to win, including sacrificing her body to keep the ball off the floor and to give each hitter whatever set they need to score.”

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