JACKSON, Tenn. – The University of West Florida volleyball team defeated Gulf South Conference opponent Union (Tenn.) 3-2 (24-26, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 15-11) on the road Saturday afternoon in a five-set thriller. West Florida (19-6, 12-3 GSC) takes sole possession of second place in the Gulf South Conference with the win after Valdosta State lost to Christian Brothers on Saturday.

"Union has a lot of weapons and served us tough," head coach Melissa Wolter said. "They certainly challenged us in every way possible. It's been a long time since we have won a five-set match and I think this was really important for the character of our team to learn how to come back from being down in that fifth set.

"Tori Martella was clutch at the end of that fifth set; we earned that run off of her serve," Wolter said. "So I have to give props to (Tori). That fifth set was make or break it for us and we really buckled down and earned a win today. That is pretty powerful for this team in where we are in the season."

West Florida was led offensively for the second consecutive match by freshman Katy Kuhlmeier (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln HS) who tallied a career-high 17 kills, three blocks, 18 digs and a service ace in the win. Kuhlmeier has now set career records in kills in back-to-back matches for UWF.

UWF freshman Monique StCyr (Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown HS) added 41 assists in the win while Colleen Starrs (West Bloomfield, Mich./Walled Lake Central HS) tallied a team-high 25 digs.

Union (Tenn.) started the first set on a 5-0 run that forced an early West Florida timeout. UWF used a 7-2 run to tie the match at seven points and would go on to see the match tied seven times in the opening set. The Argonauts led 23-21 late in the first set before Union (Tenn.) closed out the set on a 5-1 run. West Florida was held to a .135 team attacking percentage in the opening set.

West Florida was tied with Union (Tenn.) at six points apiece in the beginning of the second set. Up by two points, UWF used a 7-0 run to take a 17-8 lead. West Florida would go on to take the second set by a score of 25-18. UWF held UU to a .059 team attacking percentage in the second-set win. Kuhlmeier had six kills on 14 swings with no errors at a .429 clip in the second set.

Union (Tenn.) got out to a 10-6 lead in the third set. West Florida fought back to cut the lead to one before Union (Tenn.) used a 4-1 run to take a 20-16 lead late in the third set. The Lady Bulldogs would go on to clinch the third set by a score of 25-20.

After a back and forth start to the fourth set, West Florida took a 13-12 lead. UWF would go on a 7-3 run to take a 20-15 lead. Union (Tenn.) fought back and used a 7-4 run to force a West Florida timeout with a 24-22 lead. The Argos would go on to clinch the fourth set by a score of 25-22. Cora Bidlack (Randolph, N.J./Randolph HS) had four kills on eight swings with one error at a .375 clip in the fourth set.

Union (Tenn.) started out the fifth set on a 4-0 run on back-to-back service aces that forced an early UWF timeout. West Florida would go on a 10-4 run to take a two point lead and force a Lady Bulldogs timeout. The Argonauts would go on to close out the fifth set on a 5-3 run to win 15-11.

West Florida will next play host to GSC opponent West Alabama on Friday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. CT before facing North Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. CT.

For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.

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