LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawk volleyball team (1-8, GSC: 0-1) suffered a three-set loss to the University of West Alabama Tigers (6-3, GSC: 2-0) to open Gulf South Conference play, Thursday evening inside Pruitt Hall. 
 
Anyaliz Rodriguez led AUM with 11 kills, while Taylor Lewis posted seven digs. 
 
West Alabama's Cadence Goeden posted 14 kills, while Katerina Korre had seven kills and three blocks. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Set 1
West Alabama started on a 10-2 run, and unfortunately for the Warhawks, the Tigers kept pouring it on with kills by Cadence Goeden to swell the lead to 17-6. 
 
AUM did play competitively the rest of the way, cutting an 11-point deficit down to six, 21-15, thanks to a Jaslyn Montgomery and Salome Dejesus De La Torres assisted block. 
 
The Warhawks' rally did not last long, as the Tigers earned the side out on the next point thanks to a service error and used that to take the first set, 25-17. 
 
Despite the opening set loss, AUM did post more kills (12) than UWA (11). 
 
Set 2
The Warhawks won four of the first five points of the set. Kiara Vega got things started with a service ace, followed by kills from Anyaliz Rodriguez and Dejesus De La Torres. 
 
After a 4-1 deficit, West Alabama went on a 9-3 run to lead 10-7 and eventually 17-12. 
 
Despite AUM scoring on a kill by Vega, UWA finished the set on an 8-2 run to win set two, 25-15. 
 
Set 3
After the Tigers took the first three points, the Warhawks rallied to win the next four after back-to-back aces by Kathryn Lupo. 
 
The set stayed competitive throughout. Trailing 21-19 after a Rodriguez kill, the Tigers used four straight points to flip the lead to 23-21. 
 
Despite a KB Kinney kill to make it a 24-23 deficit, West Alabama's Cadence Goeden secured the match in straight sets. 
 
Up Next
The Warhawks will wrap up the weekend with a trip to Mississippi College on Saturday afternoon.  
 
 
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