MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn Montgomery volleyball team looked poised to defend its home court on Saturday afternoon, besting Union University in a competitive opening set, before three-straight triumphs for the visiting Bulldogs propelled them to a 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21).
 
NOTES
• AUM drops to 9-16 overall, 1-11 in Gulf South Conference play.
• Union improves to 13-14 on the season and 3-9 in league action.
• The Warhawks' eight service aces are the most for AUM in a home match in program history and ties the team record for aces in a Gulf South Conference match.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Junior setter Carly Smart posted her eighth double-double of the season, recording 29 assists with 11 digs.
• Redshirt freshman middle blocker Jaylyn Felder filled out the stat sheet with 10 digs, nine kills, three assisted blocks and a pair of service aces.
• Sophomore defensive specialist Haley Toler anchored the defense with 17 digs, marking the most digs by a Warhawk in the AUM Gymnasium, and contributed a pair of service aces.
• Junior middle blocker Brianna Garvin finished the match tied for the most kills on the team with nine, followed by redshirt junior right-side hitter Kheala Roberts with eight while boasting four assisted blocks.
• For Union, Ceciley Blanchard boasted 15 kills, Bre Carlton had 45 assists, Taylor Chiaro recorded 23 digs and Christa Karns posted five blocks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• AUM jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening set and never allowed the Bulldogs to hold a lead. Union cut the deficit to one six times in the frame, but only managed to knot the score once.
• Union prevailed in a back-and-forth second frame that saw neither side hold a leader greater than three, ending the set on a 5-1 run after trailing 21-20.
• Using a match-high 16 kills on a set-best .243 hitting percentage, Union took the overall lead with a third-set victory. AUM led for the majority of the third frame, holding a 19-18 advantage before a 6-0 run by the visitors created set point at 24-19.
• Looking to avoid a fifth set, Union created a commanding 19-10 lead in the fourth stanza. AUM rallied back with six-straight points and brought the deficit to two at 22-20 before a 3-1 rally by the visitors ended the match. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• AUM finished the match with 37 kills on a .079 hitting percentage versus 58 on a .185 clip for Union
• AUM held a slim 8-7 advantage in service aces.
• Union won the battle at the net with seven blocks versus five.
• Union boasted 64 digs while AUM had 56.
 
UP NEXT
AUM plays its final non-conference match of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 31 against Spring Hill College. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
 
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