Bulldogs hold off Eagles in five-set thriller
September 18, 2021

Bulldogs hold off Eagles in five-set thriller

JACKSON, Tenn. – In a contest where the teams combined for 139 kills, Union secured a five-set match victory over Carson-Newman, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 26-28 and 15-11, to wrap up the Union Tournament at Fred Delay Gym Saturday evening.

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JACKSON, Tenn. – In a contest where the teams combined for 139 kills, Union secured a five-set match victory over Carson-Newman, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 26-28 and 15-11, to wrap up the Union Tournament at Fred Delay Gym Saturday evening.

"We showed some massive grit this weekend and eventually that grit will turn into success," Carson-Newman coach Ashley Tiernan said. "We grew as a team and will take the things we learned this weekend into our matches this coming week."

The result overshadowed a monster night by Julia Wheeler (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), an all-tournament team pick. The redshirt-sophomore finished the night with a career-high 25 kills hitting .240 with 13 digs. It was the third time in the last decade that an Eagle produced 25-plus smashes and first since Molly Locke on Nov. 20, 2015 had 25 against Anderson, a span of 153 matches and 2,153 days ago. Locke also had 27 blasts earlier in 2015 against Quincy.

Abbey Hildenbrand (Parker, Colo.) totaled 46 assists, eight digs and seven kills, one of five players with seven-plus blasts. Erin Edwards was the only other player in double figures finishing with 11 hitting .278 and was also named to the all-tournament team.

Hayden Barton (Hixson, Tenn.) led the defense with 30 digs as one of three players with 20-plus scoops. McKenna Hall (Bristol, Wis.) reset her career high with 26 adding a team-high five aces. Blake Cherry (Cookeville, Tenn.) added 22. It was the first time since March 20, 2021 that the team saw three individuals pick up 20 balls.

Carson-Newman (5-6) has dropped two five-set matches winning five of its last eight total. Union (7-4) wins the first-ever tussle as the Eagles split their weekend tournament on the west side of the state.

In a match that featured 35 ties and a dozen lead changes, the teams quickly started their back-and-forth affair in the first. With the score knotted at nine, Union won 10 of the next 13 to gain separation and held off a late C-N surge to take the game 25-19 and go ahead 1-0.

There were 10 ties in the second including at 22 before the Eagles rattled off three of the final four to win a on strong swing by Wheeler to level the affair.

In the third, Carson-Newman faced a five-point deficit only to battle back with 10 of 15 points to equalize the tally at 18. With the margin all square at 19, the Bulldogs reeled off six straight to go on top 2-1.

In the fourth, the teams played a seesaw affair before a kill from Reese Owens set up a match point at 25-24 but Hildenbrand dumped a ball to tie it up. C-N faced another at 25-24 only to see Wheeler come up clutch. The Eagles won four of the final five with Wheeler putting the finishing touches on the game to send the contest to a fifth frame.

Carson-Newman held one lead in the final game at 1-0 before Union took over the top slot on the scoreboard. The Eagles floated around a two-point deficit but could not get over the hump with an ace from Haley Ramsey sealing a win for the home team.

As a team, Union recorded a .275 hitting percentage and 13 total blocks as five individuals recorded double digits in the kills department. Owens led the way with 17 while Alyssa Tatsch posted 16 and 19 digs.

Jordan Vick highlighted the specialists by producing a triple-double with 48 assists, 24 digs and 10 kills on a .556 margin. Sydney Sample led the way with 29 digs.

The Eagles get a quick turnaround and once again travel west, this time to the midstate to take on Trevecca Nazarene on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

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