Union Volleyball Defeats Tennessee Wesleyan for First Three-Set Victory of Season

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Union Commonwealth University's women's volleyball team (3-11, 3-1 AAC) earned its first three-set victory of the season Tuesday night, sweeping Tennessee Wesleyan (11-6, 3-2 AAC) at Robsion Arena.

Union, which defeated Tennessee Wesleyan twice last season (3-1 and 3-2), won 27-25, 25-20, 25-16 to notch its third win of the year.

Set 1: Union Commonwealth 27, Tennessee Wesleyan 25
Union opened the match with a point off a Tennessee Wesleyan service error, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle. With the Bulldogs up 24-23, Tennessee Wesleyan rallied to take a 25-24 lead. Out of a timeout, Union scored three straight points to take the set 27-25 and a 1-0 lead.
Tennessee Wesleyan committed seven service errors in the frame, compared with just one for Union.
Top performers: Emily Shumaker led Union with five kills, while Berkli Benefield added three.

Set 2: Union Commonwealth 25, Tennessee Wesleyan 20
Union jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Tennessee Wesleyan tied the score at 6-6. The Bulldogs regained control with a 10-6 advantage, forcing a timeout. Tennessee Wesleyan pulled within two at 19-17, but Union closed on a 6-3 run capped by a kill from sophomore Ginevra Girardo to secure the set.
Top performers: Jersey Glass led the way with five kills. Shumaker, Girardo and Rylee Stookey each tallied three.

Set 3: Union Commonwealth 25, Tennessee Wesleyan 16
Union again scored first, but Tennessee Wesleyan briefly led before the Bulldogs tied it at 2-2. After a 7-7 deadlock, Union went on a decisive 16-7 run to finish the set 25-16 and complete the sweep.
Top performers: Benefield, Shumaker, Girardo, Glass and Stookey each contributed two kills.

Throughout the game, Sydney Worde and Jersey Glass led the team defensively with 10 digs each. Assist wise, Sloan Coursey had 19 assists and Natalie Sanders had 15 assists. Emily Shumaker led the Union Bulldogs with 10 kills, while four other players had at least five kills each.

For the Baymont Inn Player of the Game, click here.

Up Next
Union opens October with a road match Friday, Oct. 3, at Spartanburg Methodist. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.