CLEVELAND, Ga. – Three straight set wins powered Truett McConnell women's volleyball (17-6, 7-2 AAC) on Friday night in a 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-18) win over Union Commonwealth (6-12, 3-6 AAC).
 
"These girls play hard every single match," head coach Joe Herrera said. "What makes me proud is that they also play for each other."
 
It was a strong night offensively for the Lady Bears with 15 kills by Julia Fisher and 12 by Anna Forbus. Elizabeth Cook also put in a strong hitting performance, hitting .400 (6-2-10) on the night. Caroline Yeager and Grace Lamontagne collected 19 and 16 assists, respectively, with the former also having four aces. As a team, TMU produced 50 kills and 70.0 total points.
 
After a 4-1 start to the first set for the Lady Bears, the Bulldogs scored four unanswered points to take the lead early. With another scoring run of 9-1, Union took over the set with a seven-point advantage.
 
Trailing 21-15 and with Brianna Hill on the serve, Truett McConnell rallied off seven consecutive points to tie the set late. With two attack errors and a kill, the Bulldogs settled down and took the first set 25-23.
 
"We started to serve more aggressive in the first set and that was the turning point," Herrera said. "When we serve aggressive and keep them out of system, it helps our offense flow in a good way."
 
The Lady Bears took momentum early in the second with an 8-2 start helped by a duo of aces by Alexis Mills. Another six consecutive points by the home team propelled the lead to ten points. TMU dominated the rest of the way as a final 5-2 scoring run ended the set and drew the match even 1-1.
 
Once again, a fast start by Truett, this time 7-1, gave the home squad the early advantage in the third set. Union brought the set to within five with a 11-6 score, but a scoring run of 7-2 put TMU right back in control with a ten-point margin. Scoring eight of the next 12 points, the Bulldogs fought to salvage the set, but a 3-0 run ended the set and gave the Lady bears the match lead.
 
Union responded to start the fourth set with an 8-5 lead before Truett scored three straight to tie the set. The away tea assumed control of the set with a 13-11 score before a run of 7-1 gave the Lady Bears a four-point lead. With the lead at three late, with the help of two kills by Forbus, the home team ended things with a 5-1 run to end the set and the match.
 
"I think our energy and confidence increased after the first set," Junior Caroline Yeager said. "After the lost set, we realized we needed to focus on energy and communication on the court."
 
Truett McConnell will take on Johnson for part two of the weekend tomorrow at Noon.