BARBOURVILLE, Ky. -- Midway women's volleyball battled through four sets Wednesday night, but Union Commonwealth pulled away late to earn a 3-1 victory inside the Robsion Center.
The Bulldogs (4-7) defeated the Eagles (2-12) by scores of 25-18, 30-32, 25-16 and 25-21.
The two sides went back and forth early in the opening set, battling to ties at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 and 9-9. Union began to create separation from there, using a four-point run to take a 13-9 advantage.
Midway couldn't slow the Bulldogs' momentum as Union stretched its lead to 19-10. The Eagles attempted a late rally behind a service ace from Danica Clark and kills from Allie McClanahan and Ava Benner, but Union closed out the opening frame, 25-18.
The second set turned into a marathon.
After Union scored the opening three points, Midway quickly responded and eventually took its first lead at 5-4 following a kill from Benner. Neither side was able to gain much separation as the set featured ties at 14-14, 16-16, 17-17, 19-19, 20-20 and 21-21.
Midway grabbed a 23-21 advantage following a McClanahan kill, but Union responded with two straight to tie the frame. From there, the two sides traded blows well beyond 25 points.
With the score tied at 27, Mayson Delong came up with a solo block to give Midway another opportunity to close the set. Union answered again, eventually tying the set at 30-30.
Benner broke the tie with a kill before Clark finished the marathon with a service ace, giving Midway the 32-30 victory and evening the match at one set apiece.
The Eagles carried some of that momentum into the third set and held an 11-10 advantage following a kill from Delong. Union responded with a 5-0 run to take a 15-11 lead.
Midway didn't go away quietly. Morgan Broderick and Elli Streutker helped spark a 4-0 response that pulled the Eagles within one at 17-16.
That would be as close as Midway would get. Union scored the final eight points of the set, including a pair of kills from Sloan Coursey, to take the third frame 25-16 and move ahead 2-1 in the match.
Midway again found itself in a battle during the fourth set. After falling behind 4-1, the Eagles fought back and took their first lead at 6-5.
Union later built a 10-6 advantage before Midway answered once again. McClanahan and Delong recorded kills during the response, while Aubry Kamholz added a service ace as the Eagles eventually took a 12-11 lead.
The Bulldogs regained control and built their advantage to 23-16. Midway made one final push, scoring four straight points to cut the deficit to 23-20, but Union held off the rally and took the fourth set 25-21 to secure the match.
McClanahan led a balanced Midway attack with 10 kills while hitting .250. Delong and Benner each finished with nine kills, while Streutker added five kills in two sets of action.
Peyton Osteen and Mayme Powell split the setting duties, recording 20 assists apiece. Marlee Laycock led the defensive effort with 14 digs, while Blair Riney added 10 and Aaliyah Lawler finished with nine. Clark led Midway from the service line with three aces.
As a team, Midway finished with 45 kills on 161 attacks for a .081 hitting percentage. The Eagles added 44 assists, 65 digs, five service aces and six total blocks.
Union finished with 48 kills and a .160 hitting percentage. The Bulldogs also recorded 44 assists, 69 digs, nine service aces and six blocks.
Coursey led Union with a match-high 12 kills while also recording 22 assists and 10 digs. Charlotte Juettner added 11 kills on a .429 hitting percentage and three service aces, while Jersey Glass finished with nine kills. Aracely Nunez led all players with 21 digs, while Xaymara Lazaney added 18 assists and 11 digs.
UP NEXT:
Midway will play their first RSC road match of the season on Saturday when they travel to Richmond, IN. to take on IU East. They return home on Tuesday when they host Alice Lloyd at 7:00 PM.
About Midway University Athletics
Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.
