MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The Union University volleyball team lost for the first time in over a month in a 3-2 (25-22, 18-25, 25-17, 25-27, 15-13) defeat at the University of Montevallo. Union dropped to 14-5 overall and 7-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Montevallo improved to 14-6 on the season and 6-2 in league play. 

The nine straight wins for Union set a new high mark for the program since joining the NCAA and GSC in 2012. The 7-0 start was also the best start in GSC play since joining the league. 

Both teams put up decent hitting numbers with Montevallo edging Union .238 to .234 in hitting percentages. That was the story for the rest of the stats as the two teams went back and forth all night. 

Montevallo clipped Union 82-81 in points, 65-62 in kills, and 74-69 in digs. Union had the slight advantage in aces, 9-7, while the two teams tied in blocks, 10-10, and assists, 58-58. Union did have 13 service errors to just seven for the Falcons. 

Union was led with Emily Grace Calhoon with 15 kills, while Sidney Hegg and Mikiah Perdue added 13 and 11 respectively. Alyssa Tatsch, Sydney Sample, and Jordan Vick all led with two aces each. Hegg led with five blocks and Vick led with 47 assists. Vick (16), Sample (14, and Tatsch (12) all had double figure digs. 

Vick reached yet another milestone in the loss, surpassing 3,000 career assists. She also recorded her 11th double-double of the season and narrowly missed her first triple-double of the season as she added nine kills to her 47 assists and 16 digs. Tatsch also just missed a double-double as she tallied nine kills with her 12 digs. 

Union looks to start a new streak Saturday at Alabama Huntsville at 2 p.m.

-UNION-