The much improved Union Spartans took the court Tuesday against Neuse Charter from Johnston County, but lost 3-1.
Both teams got off to a good start with the score going back and forth for the first part of the game. The Spartans managed to keep the score close at 8-8. The Cougars then went on a scoring streak and jumped ahead 21-10. The Spartans only managed to score three more points and the visiting team took the set, 25-13.
The second set of the match saw Neuse Charter get off to a hot start going ahead 12-3, but the Spartans did not give up and fought back on a hot scoring streak by Sabrina Newkirk. Union kept plugging along and on the strength of the serves by Brittany Register, the Spartans tied the score at 18 and then went ahead by one. Neuse then took a lead of 24-22. At match point, Union held and came back to tie the score at 25. The Spartans then scored two points in a row to take second game 27-25.
In set three, the Spartans got behind early 11-3, but did fight back to bring the score back within four. The Cougars went on to take game three by a score of 25-14.
The last game of the day had some great serving by senior Lindsey Ammons. Neuse went up early but the Spartans hung in there and kept the game close. The game was still close at 20-15 when the Cougars went on a run and took the final game of the night by a score of 25-16.
The Spartans are now 1-7 (0-5 in conference) and will play at North Duplin on Thursday. They will be back on their home court on Thursday, Sept. 21, when they take on Princeton.