SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Union University volleyball team went split a pair of matches Friday in the Drury University Invitational. Union lost early in the day to Northern State (S.D.) University 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-11). The Lady Bulldogs then stormed back to defeat the host school Drury 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-20). Union is 1-1 on the season, while Northern State is 2-0, and Drury is 1-1.
                   
In the win over Drury, Union jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Drury scored the first point of the set to take their only lead of the set at 1-0. The set was tied four times, with Union never trailing the rest of the set. With the scored tied at 24-24, Union recorded the final two points to win the set on a kill by Kristen Cook, followed by an ace from Cook.
 
In the second set, the teams were back and forth early pushing the scored to a 11-11 tie. Union took the lead for good with a 3-0 run and led by as many as six points twice in the set, including the 25-19 final.
 
In the third set, Union trailed 10-9 before scoring two straight points and extending their lead to as many as five points in the 25-20 match clinching win.
 
Union was led by Deja Moorer with eight kills. Abbey Wainwright added seven kills and Cook had six kills. Lydia Wright led with 14 assists, Cook led with four aces, and Mallory Baker led with two blocks.
 
In the loss to Northern State, the two teams went back and forth for much of the first set. Union held a brief lead of 14-13 before Northern State posted a 11-4 run to lead 24-18, eventually winning 25-20. Northern State controlled most of the final two sets, cruising to 25-18 and 25-11 wins.
 
Union was led by Wainwright with eight kills and Cook with four kills. Wright led with 15 assists, Wainwright added two aces, and Baker led with four blocks.
 
Union plays twice Saturday in the Drury Tournament. Union faces St. Cloud State (Minn.) at 11:00 a.m. and then takes on Arkansas Tech at 5:00 p.m.
 
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