Union Volleyball Holds Off Milligan to Advance to AAC Tournament Quarterfinals

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Union Commonwealth University's women's volleyball team (12-18, 11-8 AAC) defeated Milligan (8-26, 6-13 AAC) in a tight five-set battle Thursday afternoon at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort, 3-2.

Union entered the match having already beaten Milligan twice this season, 3-2 and 3-1. The Bulldogs completed the season sweep with another hard-fought victory, taking the match by scores of 20-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 16-14. 

Game Recap

Set 1: Milligan 25, Union Commonwealth 20
Union opened the match on a 4-1 run, but Milligan responded to take a 5-4 lead and extended it to 8-6 after a 7-2 stretch. The Bulldogs cut the deficit to 12-11 following a block by Berkli Benefield and Ginevra Girardo. Both teams exchanged short runs before Milligan pulled ahead 22-19. Union could not close the gap, dropping the set 25-20 as the Buffs took a 1-0 match lead.

Top Performers: Benefield and Jersey Glass each finished with four points. Benefield posted three kills and a block, while Glass tallied two kills and two blocks.

Set 2: Union Commonwealth 25, Milligan 22
Union again jumped ahead 4-1 before Milligan tied the set at 4-4. The teams traded points until 11-11, when the Bulldogs surged ahead with a 9-4 run to take a 20-15 lead. Milligan cut it to 21-20 after a 5-1 run, but Union closed strong, scoring four of the final six points. A kill from Emily Shumaker sealed the 25-22 victory to even the match at 1-1.

Top Performers: Glass led Union with five kills and a block. Girardo followed with four kills and a block.

Set 3: Milligan 25, Union Commonwealth 20
Milligan opened the third set with a 5-0 run, though Union battled back to within one at 9-8. The Buffs later extended their lead to 19-11 after a 10-3 stretch. Union cut it to 23-20, but Milligan held on for the 25-20 win to regain a 2-1 advantage.

Top Performers: Girardo recorded five kills, an ace and a block. Shumaker added two kills and a block.

Set 4: Union Commonwealth 25, Milligan 22
Union started the fourth set with a 3-1 run before Milligan tied it at 3-3. The Bulldogs answered with a 7-3 run, highlighted by a kill from Rylee Stookey, to take a 10-6 lead. Union extended its advantage to 16-10, but Milligan rallied again, pulling within 22-20. The Bulldogs held firm, trading points to close out the set 25-22 and force a deciding fifth frame.

Top Performers: Shumaker powered the Bulldogs with nine kills. Girardo contributed four kills and three blocks, while Benefield added four blocks and a kill.

Set 5: Union Commonwealth 16, Milligan 14
Milligan came out strong with a 5-1 run and later pushed its lead to 9-4, prompting a Union timeout. The Bulldogs responded with a 4-0 run to force a Milligan timeout, then added one more point to tie the set at 9-9. The teams traded points until 14-14, setting up a win-by-two finish. Union delivered the final two points, capped by a kill from Sydney Worde, to secure the 16-14 set win and the match victory.

Top Performers: Shumaker posted four kills and a block. Glass added two blocks and a kill.

By the Numbers

• Points: Shumaker – 22

• Kills: Shumaker – 21

• Assists: Sarah Charkosky – 33

• Blocks: Benefield – 8

• Digs: Sloan Coursey, Glass – 14

Milestones:

• Shumaker recorded her 1,000th career kill in the match.

• Charkosky and Coursey now have each surpassed 500 career assists.

Double-Doubles:

• Coursey – 26 assists, 14 digs

• Glass – 10 kills, 14 digs

Up Next

The No. 7 seed Bulldogs advance to face No. 2 seed Johnson in the AAC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 13, at 1:30 p.m. at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.