BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County High School’s volleyball team went 4-1 — all against larger schools — and placed third in its division at the Sept. 12-13 Wawa Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Association River City High School Classic.
The Tigers (12-3) defeated Class 5A Vanguard 2-0 (25-18, 25-17) to start play in the tournament. Union then recorded two more sweeps, defeating Class 5A St. Augustine 2-0 (25-12, 25-15) and Class 5A Clay 2-0. (25-16, 25-20).
Union suffered its only loss against Class 6A East River by a score of 2-0 (25-23, 25-21). The Tigers bounced back, ending the tournament with a 2-1 (25-16, 20-25, 15-13) win over Class 2A The Master’s Academy.
In the tournament opening win over Vanguard, the Tigers got nine kills from Jailyn Simmons and seven kills from Morgan Smith.
Mallory Waugh had 12 assists, six digs and five service aces, while Abby Williams had 11 assists.
Stats from the other matches weren’t available by deadline.
Union, which is ranked fourth in the Florida High School Athletic Association Rural Class power rankings, host Branford on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m., following a junior varsity match at 5:30 p.m.
The Tigers travel to play Lafayette on Thursday, Sept. 18, and then travel to play Branford on Monday, Sept. 22. Union returns home to play Suwannee on Tuesday, Sept. 23. JV and varsity matches are 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
