JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University volleyball dropped at home match Saturday to Christian Brothers University 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 25-15). Union dropped to 5-15 overall and 1-8 in the Gulf South Conference. Christian Brothers improved to 7-13 on the season and 2-8 in league play.
Christian Brothers controlled the first set. Union led briefly 2-1, but three straight points for the Bucs put CBU up for good. CBU led by as many as six a couple times in the set, before settling for the 25-21 win.
In set number two, the momentum stayed with CBU early, jumping out to a 10-5 lead. Union finally got into rhythm and started to come back. Union took its first lead of the second set at 13-12. Union did not trail again in the set, running away with a 25-18 win. Kills from Elizabeth Gilbert and Carleigh Charles, and an ace from Sydney Davis highlighted that final 7-2 run for Union.
Union could not keep the momentum in the third set. CBU scored the first three points and never looked back. Union trailed by as many as six points early, then cut the deficit to just two at 19-17. However, CBU posted a 6-2 run including back-to-back kills to win the set.
The Lady Bulldogs seemed to be playing to the back-and-forth flow of the sets, jumping out to a 3-1 lead in the fourth. However, nine straight points from CBU gave the Bucs control and a 10-3 lead. The 9-0 run ended with a CBU service error, but the Bucs did not slow down, scoring five more points in a row, including three aces from Ava Hillyer to lead 15-4 at the technical timeout. CBU cruised to the match clinching victory in set four, 25-15.
Union was led by Elizabeth Gilbert with 16 kills, Carleigh Charles with two aces, and Kylie Creech with 23 assists. Gilbert and Julia Stuible led with three blocks each, while Collins led with 20 digs.
Up next for Union will be another home game, Tuesday October 13 versus West Alabama at 6 p.m.
-UNION-
