Union Volleyball Defeats Bluefield in Another Five-Set Thriller

BLUEFIELD, Va. – Union Commonwealth University's women's volleyball team (2-11, 2-1 AAC) defeated Bluefield (4-4, 1-3 AAC) 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Dome Gymnasium.

The match lasted five sets, with scores of 26-24, 25-13, 25-18, 25-23 and 16-14.

Game Recap

Set 1: Bluefield 26, Union 24
Bluefield struck first, jumping to a 2-0 lead. Union tied it at 3-3 with two kills from Berkli Benefield. The score stayed tight until 14-14, when the Rams went on an 8-2 run to lead 22-16. Union responded with a 9-1 run to pull ahead 24-23, but Bluefield scored the final three points to win 26-24.

Top performers: Emily Shumaker led Union with four kills. Benefield added three.

Set 2: Union 25, Bluefield 13
Bluefield opened with a 6-1 run, but Union stormed back with a 20-3 stretch to take a 21-9 lead, highlighted by three kills from Rylee Stookey. The Rams managed four of the next six points, but the Bulldogs closed it out 25-13 to even the match 1-1.

Top performer: Stookey led with four kills.

Set 3: Bluefield 25, Union 18
Union started with a 4-0 run, but Bluefield answered with a 6-2 run to tie it 6-6. The teams traded points until 12-12, when the Rams pulled away with a 9-3 run to lead 21-15. Union cut it to 22-18 before Bluefield finished with three straight points to win 25-18 and take a 2-1 lead.

Top performers: Shumaker and Ginevra Girardo each had three kills for Union.

Set 4: Union 25, Bluefield 23
Union opened strong with an 8-3 run. Bluefield rallied with an 8-4 run to cut it to 12-11. The Rams tied it 15-15, and the teams stayed even until 19-19. Union sealed the set by taking six of the last 10 points, including two kills from Jersey Glass, to win 25-23 and tie the match 2-2.

Top performer: Shumaker led Union with four kills.

Set 5: Union 16, Bluefield 14
Bluefield scored first, but Union jumped ahead 3-1. The Rams countered with a 5-1 run to lead 6-4, forcing a Bulldogs timeout. Union tied it at 6, and the teams traded points until 14-14. With the set needing a two-point margin, Union secured the final two points for a 16-14 win and 3-2 match victory. Sydney Worde's service ace sealed it.

Top performers: Glass and Stookey led with two kills each.

Up Next

Union returns home to Robsion Arena to face Tennessee Wesleyan at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30.