JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University volleyball team posted an upset victory over No. 22 University of West Florida 3-1 (17-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-21) Saturday afternoon at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. Union improved to 5-10 on the season and 2-5 in the Gulf South Conference. West Florida dropped to 10-5 overall and 7-1 in league play.
 
This marked the first win for Union volleyball over a ranked opponent since moving to NCAA Division II in 2012. It also marked Union first win over West Florida after going winless in the first eight meeting. All of the previous meetings with West Florida ended in a 3-0 loss for Union, with the exception of a 3-2 loss at home in 2014. This match marked the sixth time that West Florida was ranked in Division II polls when playing Union.
 
Union head coach Darrin McClure said, "It was a good win for us and I'm really proud of the girls. It is emotional as a coach because you've worked so hard and wonder if you will ever turn the corner. At the end of the day, it is just one game, but it was a big game for us because West Florida is very good. Something was different in the locker room las night. When the locker room is quite and you can feel that it (the 3-1 loss to Valdosta State) really hurt them, that is sometimes a good thing. I'm really happy for the girls to feel what it is like to put is all together. It was not perfect, but it was good. We collectively gave our best effort of the year."
 
The first set was close for the first half of play with neither team leading by more than two points and West Florida holding a 14-12 advantage. The Argos then flexed their muscle, closing out the set by outscoring Union 11-5 including a stretch of five straight points.
 
The second set was back and forth at the start but Union was able to move out to a 14-9 lead. Union led by as many as five points several times during the remainder of the set, as West Florida got no closer than two points.
 
Union scored the first two points of the third set and jumped out to a 15-9 lead. However, West Florida responded in a big way with eight straight points to take their first lead since the first set at 17-15. Union stopped the run with a kill Ceciley Blanchard. Union trailed 21-20, before scoring four straight points including a kill from Hannah Huguley to lead 24-21. After a Union service error, McKenna Carter gave Union the 2-1 set lead with a kill to end the third set.
 
Union maintained the momentum as they started the fourth set with a 5-2 lead. West Florida responded and led 11-8 following five straight points. The teams went back and forth until Union grabbed the lead for good at 17-15 after four straight points, including a kill from Katie O'Malley. Union extended their lead to as many as four points down the stretch and took the set and match with a 25-21 win.
 
Union senior Huguley said, "After last night's game, we had a 'heart-to-heart' as a team. We had to figure out a way to turn the corner. Our goal was come out today and play together and play confident the whole time and not worry about what West Florida was doing but to control our side."
 
Union was led by O'Malley with 15 kills, Carter with 12 and Blanchard with 10. Huguley recorded 46 assists, while Kristen Goggin and Deja Moorer led with three services aces each. Audrey Cagle led with 18 digs, while Moorer added 14. Carter led with six blocks, while Huguley added four.
 
West Florida was led by Rachel Neblett with 14 kills, Monique StCyr with 26 assists, Tori Martella with two aces and 13 digs and Neblet with six blocks.
 
Up next for Union will be the third of three straight home matches when the Lady Bulldogs host Lee, Tuesday, October 4 at 6 p.m.
 
-UNION-