Union University’s volleyball team had two victories Sept. 21 at Fred DeLay Gymnasium in a tri-match featuring Union, the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Victory (Tenn.) University.
Union won the first match of the day 3-1 over Arkansas-Monticello and then took the final match of the day 3-0 over Victory.
Arkansas-Monticello topped Victory 3-0 in the middle match.
Union improved to 4-8 on the season, Arkansas-Monticello is now 5-7 overall and Victory dropped to 6-5.
In the first match, Union set the pace with a two-set lead as the team controlled play for most of the way.
In the third set, Arkansas-Monticello took over and cut Union’s lead to 2-1; however, Union answered back and finished off winning 25-22.
Jami Humphries, senior media communications major, said she hopes the volleyball team can pull out heart for their upcoming season.
“We all have a passion for the game and prove to ourselves what we’re truly made of, like we did in the weekend against Victory and Monticello,” Humphries said. “I feel good about this season, being under a new coaching staff, and having a team that meshes very well together [and] I have a great time with these girls and have built some pretty great relationships with them.
“I’m so thankful for each of them and what they bring to our team dynamic, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that continues in the games to come.”
Union was led by Kristin Cook and Mallory Baker with 11 kills each, while Deja Moorer added 10 kills. Lydia Wright added 46 assists, and led with five aces.
Elise Seufert led with 28 digs and also tallied four aces. Baker led with four blocks.
Arkansas-Monticello was led by Jessica Cuba with nine kills, Amy Bazemore with 22 assists, Cuba with two aces, Tusalava Kuaea with 19 digs, and Tasha Evans with six blocks.
In the final set, Union and Victory played a close game, but Union was able to pull away with a three-set win.
The team fell short Sept. 27 at the University of West Alabama with a score of 3-0.
The game put Union’s record at 4-10 in the season and now is 0-3 in the Gulf South Conference.
Union’s loss was the second straight after falling 3-1 to Alabama-Huntsville earlier that week.
Union didn’t win any of the sets but tied in the first and second.
Union trailed by five points early in set one but came back to a 15-14 deficit.
In the second set, Union trailed 3-0 but tied the match at 4-4.
However, West Alabama dominated the rest of the set, leading by nine points twice, 19-10 and 25-16.
Union went on a 12-5 run in the final stages of the set, including four straight points facing game-point.
Union was led by Deja Moorer with six kills, while Kristin Cook and Abbey Wainwright added four kills each. Lydia Wright led with 13 assists, Elise Seufert led with 16 digs and Mallory Baker led with four blocks.
Three different players added one ace.
West Alabama was led by Morgan Ray with 11 kills and Sadie Beam with nine kills.
Callie Murphy led with 30 assists, Elizabeth Culhane and Murphy led with two aces, Lindsay Ball led with 12 digs and Culhane led with five blocks.
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