Volleyball Collects Another AAC Road Victory

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Union College put together a solid, all-around performance to score a 3-0, Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) victory at Johnson University (Tenn.) on Tuesday.

The 25-21, 25-19, 27-25 victory is the second in a row for the Bulldogs, who are now 6-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Royals fall to 7-7 overall and 2-4 in the AAC.

CONSISTENCY AND FINISHING STRONG

Union kept the match under control and was able to take the first two sets by the scores of 25-21 and 25-19. In the third frame, the Bulldogs had to dig deep to complete the sweep as the Royals battled hard to keep the match alive.

Johnson took a 25-24 lead, but Union reeled off the next three points thanks to kills by Marissa Davis, Madison Jennings, and Shayna Baugh to lock up the 27-25 set win and 3-0 sweep.

STRONG NET PLAY

The Bulldogs produced solid numbers at the net with 41 kills and 10 team blocks. This was the second game in a row and the sixth time this season that Union recorded double-digit blocks. Davis, Baugh, and Alison Smith each logged nine kills to account for 66 percent of the team's kills.

WISE WORDS

"Tonight, we wanted to show consistency and get into our potential, especially with a team we knew very little about as the new kids on the block," said head coach Jeremy Wise. "I know they have been playing well and consistent all year, and we needed to match them on their court, a place we have never played before.

"Hopefully, our consistency will now stick with us the rest of the season, especially with a couple more matches coming up this week."

BULLDOG NOTES

• Baugh posted six more blocks, giving her 60 on the year.
• Smith nearly recorded a double-double as she amassed 16 digs.
• Mackenzie Smith accounted for the final three assists of the night on the final three points, giving her a team-high 16 assists. Jordan Kusan had 15.
• Allison Ruddick collected 24 digs, while Mikayla Phillips notched 14.
• The 41 kills are the most for Union this season in three-set matches.
• Michaela Cox delivered four blocks, while Emma Haglage added three.

NEXT FOR THE BULLDOGS

Union returns home Thursday to host Tennessee Wesleyan in another AAC contest. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.