JACKSON, Tenn. – In a back and forth match that saw 27 tie scores and 13 lead changes the Auburn Montgomery volleyball team fell to Gulf South Conference foe Union University, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon on the campus of the Bulldogs.
 
NOTES
• AUM falls to 9-14 on the season with a 0-11 mark in the GSC.
• Union improves to 5-19 this year and 2-9 in league play.
• The Bulldogs won the match 25-23, 20-25, 25-12, 25-22.
•The Warhawks are now 0-3 lifetime against Union.
 
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Freshman outside hitter Nyah Whittlesey matched a career-high and led the team in kills with 10 on the day.
• Senior middle blocker Brianna Garvin tallied seven kills and four blocks.
• Sophomore outside hitter Alexandria Henry recorded a career-high seven kills.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The two teams traded points back and forth in the first set until AUM was able to build up a 14-11 advantage. Union would respond with a six-point rally to go up 17-14 before a kill by Jaylyn Felder broke the serve. The Warhawks pulled to within a point of Union at 18-17 before the home-standing Bulldogs went on a 4-0 run. AUM responded with a 4-0 run of their own and found themselves down 22-21. Union tallied two quick kills to get to set point before the Orange & Black responded with a pair of points to cut the lead to 24-23. Coming out of a timeout the Bulldogs were able to get the point they needed to take the set 25-23.
• The second set saw the Warhawks jump out to a 15-7 lead before Union was able to break serve. AUM got a pair of kills from Carly Smart and Whittlesey to go up 17-8 prior to 6-3 run by the Bulldogs. The Warhawks got to 22-14 before Union responded with a four straight points. The Orange & Black moved to set point at 24-18, eventually winning the frame 25-20 on a kill by Smart.
• Union came out firing on all cylinders in the third set, taking a 10-2 lead in the early goings. The Bulldogs would keep up their strong play, going up 20-8 before a kill by Felder gave AUM the serve. Union would eventually win the set 25-12 to take a 2-1 match lead.
• In the fourth set the two teams traded points back and forth, battling to an 11-11 tie. After falling behind 12-11 the Warhawks responded with a 6-1 run to go up 17-13, forcing a timeout by the Bulldogs. Union came out of the timeout swinging, tying the match at 19-19. The Bulldogs would then finish the match on a 6-3 run to take the set 25-22 and the match 3-1.
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• The match featured 27 tie scores and 13 lead changes.
• AUM posted eight service aces while Union tallied seven.
• The two teams combined for 172 digs, with the Bulldogs recording 90 and the Warhawks tallying 82.
 
UP NEXT
The Warhawks will take part in the NCAA Division II South Region Crossover next weekend, which will feature matches between members of the Gulf South and Sunshine State Conferences. AUM's opponents have yet to be determined.
 
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