By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Both the Union City High School volleyball team and the UC Middle School football squad grabbed their share of the headlines with impressive wins on Tuesday.
The Lady Tornadoes swept Humboldt in three straight games to improve to 3-1, winning 25-9, 25-5 and 25-10 against the visiting Vikings.
Abby Suiter had 10 kills and Samantha George served up 14 aces as UC dominated H’boldt from the get-go.
Across the street at War Memorial Stadium, the UCMS gridders won for the second time in as many outings, beating Medina 28-18.
Cohen Simpson ran for 123 yards and a touchdown, Tayehari Jones rushed for a pair of TDs, and Ben Wade and Copeland Chism hooked up for a pretty 40-yard scoring connection as the Purple and Gold built a 20-0 lead.
In other fall sports results Tuesday involving Union City entries, the boys’ cross country team finished seventh among teams in the West Carroll Invitational and had three runners medal.
On the links, the UC girls were third in a four-team match against Milan, while Carter Walton was the medalist in boys’ play that saw the host team, Huntingdon and Jackson Christian School all have golfers participate.
Highlights of the day are as follows:
VOLLEYBALL
UC 3, Humboldt 0
The Lady Tornadoes scored the first 15 points of the opener and never looked back in recording their second district sweep in as many days.
Raegan Taylor, Kaigan Davis, Anna Cheatham and Marlee Johnson all had five kills apiece for the victors.
Taylor was also good for 13 service aces, while Johnson was credited with nine.
Annie Wade, Sara Ullrich, Emma Powell, Taylor and Johnson all had multiple assists in the passing category.
Union City’s match Thursday at Trenton will have an earlier start than originally scheduled, the jayvee beginning at 4 and the varsity at 5 p.m., due to the Tornado football team moving up its game by a night with a 7 o’clock kickoff.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
UC 28, Medina 18
Jones’ 60-yard gallop in the first quarter and the aforementioned long pass play from Wade to Chism just before the intermission gave the Twisters a 14-0 halftime lead after Jones tacked on the two-point conversion.
Jones then darted 24 yards to paydirt around right end on Union City’s first possession of the second half to make it 20-0.
Simpson scooted 38 yards to the endzone later in the third period with another Wade to Chism connection accounting for the Tornadoes’ final points.
Jones also shined defensively with eight tackles and a pair of interceptions. Davis Hayes matched his teammate with eight stops.
Kelan Roberson, Gavin Morgan, Chism and Simpson were all in on four tackles, with Logan Dawkins credited with five stops.
Union City will next play at Huntingdon on Thursday, Sept. 3.
CROSS COUNTRY
Injuries hamper UC
Both BJ Frankum and Kaitlyn Lamb went down with ankle injuries at the one-mile mark of the race.
Head coach Katie Parr said both are to be evaluated today.
Cedrion Cook, Ben Martinek and Matthew Parr all medaled for Union City, with Cook’s 14th place finish the best of any Tornado runner. His time was 19:51. Martinek (23rd) finished at 20:31, while Parr (24th) came in at 20:40.
Other Tornadoes to finish included Cameron McLendon (25:49), Brendan Meade (29:54), Maddox Dunn (30:33.1) and Will Ragsdale (30:33.6).
For the UC girls, Lizzie Jones had the team’s best time (28:23), good for 31st. Bailey Wagoner (28:26) was right behind her.
Jorge Frankum (34:33) and Chloe Meade (35:13) rounded out the Lady Tornado contingent.
Union City will next be in action Sept. 8 vs. Scotts Hill at the Parker’s Crossroads course.
GOLF
Walton shot a 39 to lead the Tornadoes, who totaled 184 as a group.
None of the other schools to compete had enough players to field a complete team.
Nolan Chandler came in with a 46, Reese Paschall shot 48, Gabriel Qualls a 51 and Mason Reed 52 for Union City.
The Lady Tornadoes finished with a 108 team score.
Mimi Jenkins carded a 51 and Olivia Tanner shot 57. Molly Kizer registered a 60.
UC is scheduled to host Gibson County, Trenton and South Fulton on Thursday at Poplar Meadows Country Club.
