Buffaloes win a five-set thriller over Union as four Buffs set career highs

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (September 16, 2021) – The Milligan University volleyball team won its second consecutive AAC matchup taking down Union College in five sets at the Steve Lacy Fieldhouse on Thursday night.

Highlights

The Buffs move to 4-8 (2-1 AAC) on the season while UC falls to 4-6 (1-1 AAC). Milligan won the match 25-16, 15-25, 25-21,23-25, 15-5.

After going on runs of four, five and seven, the Buffs took set one handily 25-16. Ella Maiden, Carley Gregory and Sarah Grace Larkey each cashed in on three kills apiece. Taylor Pavich racked up nine assists while Paxton Adkins and Cameron McConnell each had three digs.

Union reeled off three straight points at the end of the second set to win 25-15. Despite leading the kill column 19-13, Milligan was unable to avoid their own mistakes picking up 11 errors in the set. Union was led by Allison Smith with 5 kills, Jordan Kusan with 6 assists and Allison Ruddick with 4 digs.

Set three went back and forth tying eight seperate times. The Buffs went on a 5-1 run to close it out at the end winning 25-21. Milligan tallied 14 assists to Union's 6. 10 of the 14 were credited to Pavich as she came up huge for the Buffs several times tonight on the offensive end.

Set four saw Milligan and Union go neck and neck the whole way. The largest lead of the set was two points in favor of the Bulldogs. Carley Gregory came up with a massive kill to tie the set at 22. However, Union's offense was able to prevail winning the set 25-23 behind Alison Smith's four kills and six digs.

The final set was all Buffs as they jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and never looked back winning 15-5. Maiden and Larkey added on to their impressive stat line on the night spiking 3 kills apiece in the fifth.

Several Buffalo players set career highs tonight: Adkins 31 digs, Pavich 47 assists, Larkey 14 kills and Maiden 8 total blocks.

Milligan volleyball will be back in action this upcoming Saturday going on the road to face St. Andrews at 1:00 PM.