JACKSON, Tenn. – In the home opener for the Union University volleyball team, the Lady Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker 3-2 (9-25, 25-15, 26-24, 20-25, 15-11) to the University of West Alabama. Union dropped to 2-4 on the season and 0-2 in the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama improved to 2-4 overall and 2-0 in league play.
 
For the second straight match, both in conference, Union lost in five sets. Union led 2-0 Tuesday at Alabama Huntsville, and then led 1-0 in Friday's match versus West Alabama.
 
Union started strong with a 25-9 victory in the first set. West Alabama returned the favor with a solid 25-15 win to even the set. In the third set, Union never led, but stayed close with three ties in a 26-24 loss. The Lady Bulldogs bounced back in the fourth set to tie the match. Union trailed 7-3 before a slow rally pulled the set even at 15-15. Union pushed out to the 25-20 win to even the match at 2-2.
 
In the fifth set, Union once again trailed early, going down by as many as four points 10-6. Union rallied and cut the score to 12-11. However West Alabama scored the final three points to seal the win.
 
This marks the third straight five-set match for Union, going 1-2 in that stretch. Union was 4-4 last season in five-set matches.
 
Union was led by Deja Moorer with 24 kills, while Mallory Baker added 10 kills. Lydia Wright recorded 39 assists, and along with Courtney Masters, led with two aces each. Moorer led with 20 digs and three blocks.  
 
West Alabama was led by Yanesha Johnson with 11 kills. Callie Murphy and Sam Burgess added 21 and 14 assists respectively. Lindsey Ball led with four aces and 22 digs, while Jessica Voyles, Briana Sandifer, and Vic Collins, added one block each.
 
Up next for Union is a second straight home conference match, versus Mississippi College, Saturday at 2 p.m..
 
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