JACKSON, Tenn.—The Truman Volleyball team split two matches on the second day of the Union University Tournament, with both matches going all five sets. In the first match, Truman persevered over Florida Tech (25-22, 25-12, 22-25, 29-31, 15-13) but in the second a rally against Union fell just short as the dogs fell (25-22, 25-20, 24-26, 18-25, 15-11). Hanna Berry and Morgan Smith each had two double-doubles today.
Match One
The first set was a nip and tuck affair as the teams went on small spurts back and forth giving and taking the lead. Late in the set it was tied at 20 and a kill from Berry started a 4-0 run which put Truman up for good.
In the second set, Truman was up 8-7 when an 11-0 run propelled them to victory in the set. Berry got five kills in the run, including four in a row at one point. Rachel DeFries picked up where she left off with a couple more aces and then Berry got the final kill to give the dogs a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set was tight throughout, but with the score tied at 18 a 4-0 run put FTU ahead and they would take the set.
Truman had matchpoint in the fourth set up 25-24, but FTU got two straight to stay alive. FTU would fight off another elimination point with the dogs up 28-27, and the Panthers would ultimately take the set with two straight points from a 29 all tie.
Continuing with the theme of the match, the fifth set was a back and forth seesaw experience with neither team gaining a definitive edge. With Truman up 12-11, back to back kills from Kaat and Smith gave the Bulldogs matchpoint. Back to back points kept the Panthers alive, but Kaat finished the match with her final kill.
Kaat and Smith tied for the team lead with 16 kills and Berry added 15 while Allison Beaton also reached double figures with ten.
Match Two
A 5-0 run early in the first set gave Truman a 8-5 lead, with kills from Kaat and Monica Brown and an ace from Katy Motz. Each time Truman would get a lead, Union would answer and a late 6-0 run from the hosts gave them the first set.
Truman got off to another fast start in the second set, taking an 11-6 lead early on. A 6-0 spurt put them ahead, with back to back kills from Beaton and two more from Monica Brown. This set would also seesaw back and forth, but Union pulled ahead late to go up 2-0 in the match.
After finding themselves down 9-2 in the third set, the Bulldogs collectively decided they didn't want their day to end quite yet. A 5-0 spurt got the Bulldogs back in it, with a kill from Kaat and an ace from Motz. Union would pull ahead again, but Truman fought back to take a 19-18 lead late in the set. Union would eventually get to matchpoint at 24-22, but a 4-0 run for Truman turned the tables and gave the Bulldogs the set.
In the fourth set, Truman led 10-9 and a 5-0 run gave them breathing room as they would eventually take the set. Emma Wollert started the run with a kill and from there Truman would lead by no less than three the rest of the way.
In the final set of the match, the teams were knotted at five early on. But Union went on a definitive 5-1 run that put them up the rest of the set. Truman would fight back to within two at 13-11 but could not complete the rally from that point as Union took the match.
Motz and Rachel DeFries joined Smith and Berry with double doubles in the match. Motz had 18 assists and 15 digs while DeFries added 26 assists and 10 digs.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday evening in Pittsburg, Kan. for the Pittsburg State Tournament.
