Union falls in five sets to Truett McConnell

Barbourville, Ky. – Union volleyball hosted Truett McConnell on Saturday morning. The Bulldogs entered the matchup off a 3-0 victory over Reinhardt on Friday night.

Truett McConnell won the opening set. The Bulldogs tallied 13 kills in the second set en route to a 25-19 win. Truett McConnell got out to a 10-4 lead in the third set. Union registered eight kills, while Truett McConnell recorded seven, but the Bears won the set 25-14.

Union had two 4-0 runs in the fourth set. With the Bulldogs leading 25-24, a service ace by Raquel Kessler won the set for the Orange and Black. Truett McConnell won the fifth set 15-11. The final score was 3-2 as the Bears won (25-15, 19-25, 25-14, 24-26, 15-11).

Raquel Kessler led all players in kills with 20, while Emily Shumaker recorded 12 for Union. Maddy McGaughey tallied a team-leading 29 assists; Sarah Charkosky registered 15.

Nicole Almestica recorded 14 digs, while McGaughey tallied nine. Jenna Grayson and Raquel Kessler each recorded eight digs.

The Bulldogs are now 8-15 (8-7 AAC) this season, while Truett McConnell is 19-8 (12-3 AAC). Up next for Union is a road matchup at Tennessee Wesleyan on Tuesday, Oct. 17.