Union falls in opening round of AAC Tournament

Kingsport, Tenn. – The No. 10 seeded Union College volleyball team played No. 7 Bluefield in the opening round of the AAC Tournament on Thursday.

Union led 8-6 in the opening set, but Bluefield countered with a 9-1 run en route to winning the first set 25-16. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 8-4 lead in the second set.

The Orange and Black recorded an 8-0 run later in the set to take a 16-6 lead. Union took the second set 25-14 as a kill by Raquel Kessler provided the winning point.

Union registered 19 kills in the third set, but Bluefield won the set 27-25. The score was tied 14-14 in the fourth set when the Bulldogs tallied a 6-1 run to take a 20-15 lead. Union closed out the set with a 4-0 run to win the set 25-18. Kessler registered the final two points of the set via kills.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-7 lead in the fifth set, but Bluefield went on an 8-0 run to win the game 3-2 (25-16, 14-25, 27-25, 18-25, 15-8).

Kessler tallied 18 kills, which was tied for the most by any player. Michaela Cox registered 10 kills for Union, while Maddie Tackett recorded eight. Emily Shumaker and Morgan Stacy each tallied seven kills.

Nicole Almestica led Union in digs with 23, while Kessler recorded 20 and Maddy McGaughey tallied 16. Jenna Grayson recorded 13 digs. McGaughey and Sarah Charkosky each registered 20 assists.

The Bulldogs are now 11-20, while Bluefield advances to 18-14.