NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (9-13, 6-5 GSC) bounced back with a win over Union University (5-14, 3-7 GSC) in Trojan Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening.
The Trojans took down the Bulldogs in four sets, winning, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-19.
THE SERIES
The Trojans defeated the Bulldogs in four sets in the school's first-ever Gulf South Conference match on September 24. Trevecca owns a 7-4 edge in the Div. II era after sweeping the regular season series. The teams played 31 times in the NAIA era with the Bulldogs controlling a 21-10 advantage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans dropped the first set by falling into a 4-1 hole to start things off. Union held steady throughout the opener, holding at least a three-point advantage after a service error by Trevecca at 7-4 mark. The Bulldogs hung on for the 25-23 win.
Trevecca found itself in a battle early in the second. After splitting the first eight points, the Trojans used a 9-1 run to go up 12-5 and put things out of reach for Union. A kill by
Emma Titus doubled the Bulldogs up at 16-8 before a late Union run made it a 22-20 game.
Elizabeth Wells,
Reese Payne and
Emma Titus collected the final three kills to take the set and level the match at 25-21.
With Union taking the opening three points of the third, the Trojans relied on a balanced offensive attack to tie the set at 5-5. A service error later tied things at 13-13 and the Trojans put together three more points in a row from there to lead 16-13. Despite the Bulldogs chipping away, the Trojans went up two sets to one behind a kill from
Addison Cunnagin, 25-19.
Trevecca boosted out to a quick 4-1 lead in the fourth before Union stormed back to take a 5-4 advantage. The Bulldogs got their lead up to 10-6 before the Trojans regained it at 12-11 as part of a 4-0 run. Back-to-back service errors set the Bulldogs up with their final lead of the night at 17-16. Trevecca took the next four points which forced Union to call timeout at 20-17. The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 5-2 from there to help the team to a 25-19 win.
THE TEAM
Trevecca collectively hit .203 with 14 service aces, 45 assists, and 44 digs. Both teams had eight blocks while Union had twice the reception errors, 14-7.
THE PLAYERS
Emma Titus put up a team-high 17 kills while hitting .289 with a pair of digs and a block.
Elizabeth Wells added eight kills and now has 992 career kills.
Skias Hainline offered 37 assists along with three service aces, two kills and seven digs. Hainline now has 942 career assists.
UP NEXT
The Trojans finish the week with a pair of road matches. First up, on Friday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. is the University of Alabama-Huntsville.
The Chargers (18-3, 9-2 GSC) lead the all-time series 22-5 over the Trojans. UAH holds a 12-3 edge in the Div. II era.
