Box Score
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University volleyball posted a 3-2 (25-19, 16-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-11) victory over the University of West Alabama Saturday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 4-13 on the season and 1-8 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama dropped to 9-10 overall and 2-8 in league play.
The win for Union snapped 10-match losing streak and marked the first victory for the young team in the Gulf South Conference.
In the first set, Union trailed 6-2 early and again at 9-5. But then Union scored six of the next seven points to take an 11-10 lead. Union posted another 6-1 run late in the set as the Lady Bulldogs pulled away for the 25-19 win.
In the second set, West Alabama used another fast start to gain the early lead. The Tigers scored the first seven points of the set, and extended their lead to 16-8 midway through the set. Union was never able to get anything going as West Alabama evened the match at 1-1.
The third set started with Union taking a quick 6-3 lead, but the remainder of the set belonged to West Alabama. The Tigers used 6-0 run and an 8-1 run to help walk away with a 25-15 victory.
Union responded in a must win fourth set. Union took their first lead of the set at 8-7 and did not trail again for the remainder of the afternoon. The set featured eight ties, but Union was able to maintain the lead down the stretch. With the set tied at 16-16, Union scored five of the next seven points to take a 21-18 lead. After West Alabama cut the match to 22-21, Union scored three of the next four points to even the match at 2-2.
In the deciding fifth set, Union took the 1-0 lead and did not trail in the set. The set was tied for the final time at 4-4 before Union made their move. Union led by as many as four points on five different occasions as the Lady Bulldogs improved to 2-0 this season in 5-set matches.
Union was led by
Savannah Hughes with 10 kills.
Abbey Wainwright added nine kills and
Kristin Cook got eight kills.
Linsey Mirtsching and
Lydia Wright split the setter duties, recording 18 and 16 assists respectively. Union's lone senior
Lauren Sprouse led with six aces in the match and
Elise Seufert and Sprouse led with 12 and 10 digs each. Cook led Union with four blocks.
West Alabama was led by Sadie Beam with 18 kills, Tazra Pitts with 13 kills and Chanel Davis with 10 kills. Chelsea Payne led with 40 assists, Noel Crobin led with two aces, Carly Wehling added 16 digs and Beam led with four blocks. West Alabama committed 18 service errors.
Up next for Union will be five road non-conference matches, first going to Trevecca Nazarene Tuesday, October 16. Then Union travels to New Orleans for a tournament October 19-20.
#UNION#
