LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama volleyball team dropped a four-set contest to Union University in a Gulf South Conference match, Friday night from Pruitt Hall. 

Union improved to 6-23 and 5-9 in GSC play, while West Alabama dropped to 5-24 and 2-13 in league play. 

With UU leading 12-11 in the opening frame, the Lady Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run to swell the lead to 17-11. UWA did make it interesting with a Jaida Alvin kill to make it a 23-20 lead for UU, but back-to-back points by the visitors sealed the opener, 25-20. 

Set number two was all Union in the early goings, but West Alabama scored five straight points to flip a 6-5 deficit to a 10-6 lead thanks to three Lady Bulldog attack errors and a Chyna Dixon ace. 

Union would reclaim the lead later in the set, and with a 21-19 deficit staring at the Tigers, they quickly erased that. Four straight points, including two by Jaida Alvin, gave UWA the 23-22 lead. 

After UU tied it up on the rally from a Marie Torosian kill, the Tigers saw an Amelia Johnigan kill and the Lady Bulldogs ninth attack error of the set to even the match at one set apiece, 25-23. 

UU used three service aces and five service errors by UWA in the third set to get the advantage. Tied at 20, the Lady Bulldogs won the final five points to win, 25-20, and take the 2-1 set lead. 

In the fourth, while UWA had the advantage for most of the set, UU found a rally at the absolute best time. With the home team ahead at 21, a Vanja Stefanovic kill earned the side-out, and the Lady Bulldogs did not relinquish, winning the final six points to take the 25-21 victory and win the match in four sets. 

While the challenges came for UWA on the serve, the Tigers still posted 51 kills, marking the second-highest performance of the season. Additionally, for the second straight match, the Tigers hit over. 200 as a team with a .231 clip. 

Ally Craig led the Tigers with 14 kills, while Jaida Alvin added 13 kills and added four digs. 

Quiara Dunson led the defense with 18 digs, while Berfin Mertcan and Chyna Dixon each had 22 assists. 

Marie Torosian tallied a .346 swing percentage with 11 kills, committing just two errors on 26 swings. Davey Slaughter also posted 20 digs at the libero. 

West Alabama wraps up the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 11 against Mississippi College. Prior to first serve at 1 p.m., the program will recognize the senior class.