Jackson, Tenn. — Union University’s women’s volleyball team played the University of West Alabama (UWA) on Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the Fred Delay Gymnasium, losing 3-0 to the top team in the conference.
West Alabama (22-2, 9-1) defeated the Lady Bulldogs (5-16, 1-9) midway through the season in Union’s third consecutive loss.
UWA (25-21, 25-18, 25-20) began with a strong 5-1 lead in the first set. Union fought back and gained the lead 20-19 only to lose the set 25-21.
Union began the second set gaining the lead a few times but ultimately succumbing to UWA 25-18.
The third set saw the teams fight for the lead, as it bounced between the two. Union put up a strong fight but lost the lead halfway through the set, unable to regain it later on. This gave UWA their 3-0 win.
Union’s performance was led by Elizabeth Gilbert contributing nine kills, Emily Priddy with two aces, Julia Stuible with six blocks, Kylie Creech with 14 assists and Caileigh Collins with seven digs.
Collins is a freshman Christian studies major in her first season playing for the Lady Bulldogs. Speaking to the team’s performance this season, she said, “We are coming out of a tough start to the season, but we have glimpses that look good.” Even while having just played the best team in the conference, she is optimistic that there’s a way forward for the team.
“We’re learning a lot in this part of our season, which is good, and it’ll help us in the long run to be able to go through this and come out on the other side of it.”
Collins enters Union with a noteworthy high school career in the sport. She racked up more than 1,700 digs for her school, the most in school history and led the team in aces all four of her years on the team.
Hannah Hamill, a senior exercise science major, is the team’s only international player, hailing from Australia. Though she didn’t play, she offers a supportive presence and perspective.
“I’m so proud of how we showed up; it was awesome. We fought together, we fought hard,” Hamill said.
“I just want us to have fun and play ball … I don’t want us to overthink the score, the stats, the record, whatever it may be. I just want my team to back themselves, have fun and enjoy it,” she said.
The team plays next at the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Friday, Oct. 16.
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