JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University volleyball team opened the 2022 season with two wins in the first day of the Union Volleyball Classic. Union defeated the University of Arkansas and Monticello 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-17) and then ended the evening with a win over Belmont Abbey College 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-7). 

Union will play twice more Saturday in the classic with five total matches being played at Fred DeLay Gymnasium Saturday as a part of the classic. 

Union interim head coach Stephen Vick said, "Seeing our players execute the concepts we have implemented in the last two weeks was a lot of fun today." Vick is now 2-0 in his college coaching career after coaching high school volleyball for the past 21 years. 

In the second game, Union was down 6-2 early, including a 3-0 deficit to start play. Union slowly chipped away and tied the match at 13-13. Union, however, found itself down 20-15. Union stormed back, scoring seven of the next eight points to take its first lead of the night, 22-21. Union scored the final three points to get the win. Union led for the majority of the second set and dominated the third set. Union opened the final set with a 9-0 run and led 12-1 at one point. 

Union hit .360 as a team and led in kills, 37-21. Union and Belmont Abbey had six aces each, while Union had all five blocks in the game. Union led 51-36 in digs. Jordan Vick and Sidney Hegg led with seven kills each, Vick was tops with three aces. Alyssa Tatsch led with three blocks, Vick led with 21 assists, and Sydney Sample led with 16 digs. 

In the win over Arkansas Monticello, Union never trailed in the match. Union hit .311 for the game, led 29-24 in kills, 12-3 in aces, 10-2 in blocks, and 41-37 in digs. Hegg led with 10 kills and four blocks, Tatsch added four blocks, Bailey Hughes led with five aces, Vick with 20 assists, a Sample with 10 digs. 

Union will face Mississippi College (2-0) and Texas Women's College (1-1) Saturday. 

-UNION-