Top-seed CIU eliminates volleyball from AAC Tourney

BY TEODORA JOVIC
Communications Intern

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Union College Woman's volleyball team traveled to Columbia to face off against the top-seeded Columbia International Rams in the Appalaichan Athletic Conferance tournament quarterfinals today. It was a tough loss, with Union going down in three sets.

The Bulldogs had a slow first two sets against an aggressive Rams team. Their opponents came out of the blocks strong, with a service ace closing out the first set 25-17.

The second set followed in similar fashion, but there were glimpses of a comeback from the Bulldogs. A kill by Raquel Kessler brought them close on the scoreboard trailing by just two at 18-16, but the Rams were just too strong, finishing the set with a kill and taking it 25-18.

But the Bulldogs fought hard in the third, pushing their opponent to a closer score than the first two sets. The Bulldogs opened up the set with another kill by Kessler assisted by Jordan Kusan. The rest of the set was neck-and-neck, with aggressive play proving the Bulldogs have what it takes to face these top teams.

A kill by Emily Shumaker tied the score at 8-8, then again a kill by Haleigh Reisser tied it at 13-13. Both teams struiggled to take the lead, but eventually with a kill by Michaela Cox, the Bulldogs went up 18-16. But they couldnt keep that lead due to the constant aggression by the Rams.

A kill by Alison Smith tied the score at 21. But the Rams simply outplayed the Bulldogs, taking the final four sets and ending the match with a kill by Hadassah Davis, with a score of 25-21.

The Bulldogs close the season with a record of 15-18, as they look to rest and enter their off-season getting ready for next year.