JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University women's volleyball team fell at home to the University of Alabama Huntsville 3-1 (12-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19). Union dropped to 4-13 on the season and 1-10 in the Gulf South Conference. Alabama Huntsville improved to 9-6 overall and 7-4 in league play.
The match was also Union's annual Dig Pink Night where the Lady Bulldogs help raise support both financial and emotionally for those dealing with cancer. Tonight, the beneficiary of Union's work on the night was former Union volleyball player Lindsey Stahlberg Katrosh, who is currently going through cancer surgery and treatments. Lindsey played for Union during the 2002 and 2003 seasons and was a part of Union's 2003 NCCAA National Championship Team.
In much like the first meeting of the year in Huntsville, Union got off to a great start. Union led 2-0 after the first two sets in Huntsville back on September 9 before the Chargers rallied to win 3-2. Tuesday at home, Union led 1-0 after a dominating first set, but could not hold off the Charger rally.
The first set started with both teams playing close and after 14 points, the set was tied 7-7. Then Union took control, pushing out to a 17-10 lead. Union led 17-12 when the Lady Bulldogs rolled off eight straight points to win the set 25-12.
In the second set, Union continued their momentum and led 10-7 in the early moments of the set. But then UAH began to take control as the Chargers jumped out to a 23-17 lead. Union scored four straight but lost 25-21. The third set was close with 10 ties and three lead changes. The set was tied 19-19, before UAH went up 23-19. Union rallied to make it 23-22 but gave up two straight to go down two sets to one. In the fourth set, the score was tied twice early but UAH was able to pull out to a 22-16 lead before taking the set and match 25-19.
The four-set match featured 25 ties and nine lead changes. Both Union and Alabama Huntsville recorded 54 kills in the match. Union led 6-4 in service aces, but made six serving errors to none for UAH. Union led 8-5 in blocks. In the four sets, Union and UAH both scored a total of 87 points.
Union was led by
Deja Moorer with 12 kills,
Savannah Hughes added 11 kills and
Ceciley Blanchard recorded a career high 10 kills.
Hannah Huguley led with 26 assists and three service aces.
Lydia Wright added 21 assists, while
Elise Seufert led with 15 digs, and
McKenna Carter led with five blocks. Huguley missed her second straight triple-double with 26 assists, 10 digs, and nine kills.
UAH was led by Anna Claire Johnson with 22 kills and Olivia Bauman with 15 kills. Ashton Baker led with 42 assists and 17 digs. Kendal Knisley led with four blocks. Four Charger players recorded one ace each.
Up next for Union will be a pair of road conference matches at West Alabama Oct. 10 and at Mississippi College Oct. 11.
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