Union Drops Second Match of Season to Johnson
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Johnson (TN) (12-3, 2-0) | 25 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
|
Union Commonwealth (1-11, 1-1) | 17 | 25 | 17 | 20 | 1 |
BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Union Commonwealth University's women's volleyball team (10-17, 10-7 AAC) fell to Johnson (28-6, 15-2 AAC) Tuesday night at Robsion Arena, 3-1.
The match was originally scheduled for Sept. 23 but postponed to Nov. 4. In their first meeting this season at the Graham Center, Johnson swept Union 3-0 with scores of 25-19, 25-9 and 25-22. This time, the Royals claimed a four-set win with scores of 25-17, 19-25, 25-17 and 25-20.
Game Recap
Set 1: Johnson 25, Union Commonwealth 17
Union opened strong with a 5-1 run to start the match. Johnson responded by tying it 7-7, and the teams traded points until 10-10. Union went on a short 3-1 run, but Johnson answered with an 11-2 surge to take control at 22-15. The Royals finished the set 25-17 to take a 1-0 lead.
Top Performers: Emily Shumaker and Jersey Glass each had four kills.
Set 2: Union Commonwealth 25, Johnson 19
Union gained early momentum with a 3-1 lead before Johnson tied it 3-3. The teams stayed even until 6-6, when the Bulldogs went on a 5-1 run to force a Royals timeout. Johnson then answered with an 8-1 run to go ahead 15-12, but Union closed the set strong on a 13-4 run, capped by back-to-back kills from Rylee Stookey to win 25-19 and even the match 1-1.
Top Performers: Stookey led the way with eight kills. Shumaker followed with four kills and a block.
Set 3: Johnson 25, Union Commonwealth 17
Johnson started fast, jumping out to an 8-2 lead and forcing a Union timeout at 14-6. The Bulldogs battled back with a brief 5-1 run late in the set, but Johnson closed it out 25-17 to take a 2-1 match lead.
Top Performers: Shumaker led with four kills, and Gabrielly Dos Santos added three.
Set 4: Johnson 25, Union Commonwealth 20
Johnson opened the final set on a 7-1 run before Union cut the deficit to one at 8-7, prompting a Royals timeout. Johnson regrouped with a 6-1 stretch to go up 14-8. The Bulldogs closed the gap with a 6-2 run to make it 22-19, but the Royals held on to win the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
Top Performers: Shumaker recorded five kills and a block, while Berkli Benefield added four kills.
By The Numbers
Kills: Shumaker – 17
Assists: Sloan Coursey – 15
Blocks: Glass – 5
Digs: Glass – 20
Natalie Sanders hit her 200th career assist this game. She is now at 211 total assists.
To see the Baymont Inn Player of the Game, click here.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return to Robsion Arena on Friday, Nov. 7, for Senior Night against Pikeville. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
