Box Score
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University volleyball lost 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18) Tuesday night to the University of North Alabama. Union dropped to 4-19 overall and 1-9 in the Gulf South Conference. North Alabama improved to 10-11 overall and 6-4 in league play.
North Alabama started the season 3-10, but has won seven of their last eight games, including four straight conference wins.
Union jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first set. North Alabama rallied back with 14 of the next 17 points to lead 15-10. Union scored four straight points late in the set to pull to within 24-21, before dropping the first set.
In set number two, Union and North Alabama played to seven ties and two lead changes. Union led for most of the set, including their biggest lead of five points at 14-9. North Alabama rallied and held their largest lead of the set at three points, the latest at 21-18. Union rallied back and closed the set on a 7-2 run to even the match at 1-1.
In the third set, 10 more ties occurred but Union only managed the lead one time in the set. With the set tied for the final time at 22-22, North Alabama scored three straight points to regain momentum and a 2-1 match lead.
The fourth set was dominated by North Alabama early as the Lions scored the first five points and led 11-2. North Alabama held leads of 18-5 and 24-11. However, Union did not go away quietly and scored seven straight points with
Micaela Bailey serving to cut the deficit to 24-18. But the rally was stopped as North Alabama clinched the match with the final point.
Union was led by
Savannah Hughes with 11 kills, while
Abbey Wainwright added eight kills.
Linsey Mirtsching and
Lydia Wright each recorded 19 assists. Mirtsching led with 11 digs,
Lauren Sprouse led with three aces, and
Mallory Baker and Mirtsching led with five blocks.
North Alabama was led by Priscilla Massengale with 18 kills. Cara Gregg and Jessica Ronyak added 10 kills. Hope Rayburn led with 43 assists, Alex Panks with six aces, Massengaile with 10 digs, and Jessica Ronyak with five blocks.
Up next for Union will be a road conference match at West Florida, October 27.
#UNION#
