Milligan hands volleyball third straight loss

MILLIGAN, Tenn. - For the second time this season, struggles to close doomed the Union volleyball team against Milligan.

The Buffs rebounded from a first set loss by winning the next three, capped by a furious fourth-set rally in a 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-22 Appalachian Athletic Conference win over the Bulldogs Friday night.

Things started out great for Union, which led by as many as eight points in the first set and fended off a Milligan rally on a clinching kill by Alison Smith. And though the Bulldogs eventually found themselves in a two-sets-to-one hole, the prospects of a fifth set seemed promising, as they built up a 21-16 lead after Emily Shumaker set up Lexi Hardy for a kill.

Unfortunately, momentum would quickly and permanently swing the way of the Buffs, as Shelby Miller proceeded to blast three consecutive kills and Milligan outscored Union 9-1 the rest of the way.

Friday's match followed a somewhat similar script to the team's first meeting on Sept. 10, when Union won the first two sets, only to drop the final three.

Smith led all players with 17 kills, Jordan Kusan had 17 assists and Cami Timm made 12 digs for the Bulldogs, who have dropped three straight and are now 8-10 overall and 4-6 in the AAC.

Union has a very quick turnaround, traveling to Montreat (N.C.) for a 1 p.m. game Saturday.