Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. – UWG Volleyball dropped the first match of their three-match weekend on Friday as the Wolves fell 3-0 to the Union Bulldogs.
West Georgia struggled on the attack, putting down 26 kills on a .078 hitting percentage, while the Bulldogs recorded 39 kills on a .278 hitting percentage.
UWG got off to a solid start in set one, taking an early 6-4 lead on Union, before the Bulldogs found their footing and went on an 8-1 run to put West Georgia in a 12-7 hole. Down five, coach
Kara Hellmann took her first timeout to halt Union's momentum, but the Bulldogs would score four of the next five points to extend their lead to 16-8, virtually putting the set out of reach for the Wolves. A kill from
Emilee Harris and a block from
Isabella Steffel kept UWG alive but Union would end up running away with the set, winning it 25-12.
Much like set one, West Georgia took an early lead on Union, leading 11-8 after a block from Steffel and
Marley Staats. Down three, the Bulldogs would throw a massive counterpunch as Union went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-11 lead. The Wolves responded with a 3-1 run which was capped off by a thunderous kill from
Sarah Pipping to cut UWG's deficit to three. The teams then began to trade points until Union clinched the set, 25-19, courtesy of a 4-1 run.
For the first time in the match, Union took an early lead to begin a set, as the Bulldogs won the race to 10 by one point in set three. A service ace from Union sparked a quick 4-0 run for West Georgia to give the Wolves their first lead of the set at 12-10, until the Bulldogs went on their third massive run of the match, this time a 10-0 run, to take a 20-12 lead. UWG scored the next three points to cut the deficit to six, before a Union 4-2 run ended the set, 25-17, and the match.
Pipping led the Wolves with a team-high six kills while Steffel and Staats picked up three blocks each.
West Georgia will be back in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. for matchups against Christian Brothers and Rhodes College.