Linton-Stockton blockers Taneal Church (left) and Tricia Emmons (center) battle Union (Dugger) setter Megan Gambill at the net during a dual conference match at Dugger Thursday night. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

The win upped the Lady Miners record to 20-8 overall. They finished perfect in both the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference (7-0) and 5-0 in the Tri-River Conference.

The Lady Miners have won or shared both league titles five times in the past six years. They shared both titles with Shakamak a year ago and Union (Dugger) won both conference crowns outright in 2005 and 2002.

"That is a big accomplishment for the girls," Linton-Stockton coach Penny Dunn said of continuing the conference streaks. "We shared it with Shakamak last year.

"Not only did we win both conferences, but we achieved 20 wins. This team is only one win off the pace set by last year's team."

Union (Dugger) did not start like a team that has only won five matches this season.

The Lady Bulldogs, who slipped to 5-14, 2-5 in the SWIAC, 1-3 in the TRC, jumped out to an lead of 7-2 after an ace by Shana Nicol (9 of 11 serving, five points, two aces and three digs).

Although Linton-Stockton got even at 16-all, a kill by Lady Bulldog sophomore Ashli Scott (10-for-10 serving, four points, two aces, seven kills and 12 digs), put them on serve and ahead 22-18.

But a hitting miscue by Scott put the Lady Miners back on serve. With sophomore Savannah Mason behind the service line, senior Megan Barnes took over at the net.

Barnes, who had a match-best 17 kills to go with five digs and one ace on 7 of 9 serving, put down three winners at the net to tie the issue at 22-all.

Her perfectly placed tip kill tied things at 23-23 after Scott's kill had put the Lady Bulldogs back ahead.

A hitting miscue by Union (Dugger) and a kill by Tricia Emmons (two kills, one block and three digs) ended the opening game.

"The girls got off to a really good start," said Union (Dugger) assistant coach Kayla Summitt. "But we could not close things out against a really good team.

"You don't know how things would have played out from there, if we had won that first game."

Mason, who was 17 of 17 serving with 12 points, one ace and 12 digs, made five serves in a row to start game two.

The Lady Miners scored nine of the first 10 points, taking a 9-1 cushion after Emmons pounded down a block.

"We had quite a few blocking errors," said Dunn. "We were just not able to finish them off like we needed to.

"We started off flat, but you have to give some of the credit for that to Dugger. They have a very good setter (Megan Gambill)."

With Gambill (15 of 15 serving with 10 points , five aces, nine kills, seven blocks, seven digs and 13 assists) serving, the Lady Bulldogs closed to within 12-11, forcing Dunn to call time-out.

But that was as close as the hosts would get.

In game three, the Lady Miners started on a 4-0 spurt and gradually pulled away. An ace by Barnes and one of eight kills by Brittany Rehmel pushed their cushion to 19-10.

A diving save by Mason came on game point.

Bradlea Beard paced the Lady Miners offense with 21 assists, three digs and one ace.

Izzy Carpenter had eight assists and two digs. Jannae Jackson tallied three kills, Taneal Church collected two kills and two digs and Kelsy Foglesong registered five digs.

For Union (Dugger), Taylor Woods was 10-for-10 serving and Jessica Davidson made all eight of her attempts.

Cassie Parr was 2 of 4.

Parr led with 15 digs to go with six kills and one block. Woods had five points, two aces, one kill and four digs. Davidson ended up with one point, one ace and one dig.

Audrey Morrill tallied four digs and a block.

The Lady Miners will host Vincennes Lincoln and Vincennes Rivet in a round-robin at home Saturday.

Linton-Stockton's JV team will face Lincoln at 10 a.m. to be followed by the varsity match-up between the two teams.

After that, the Lady Miner junior varsity will play Rivet, to be followed by the varsity contest between Linton-Stockton and the Lady Patriots.

Union (Dugger) will be off until Tuesday when they host North Knox in another varsity-only match. Start time has been moved up to 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than previously announced.

Tri-River Conference

Volleyball Champions

1997 -- Union (Dugger)

1999 -- Union (Dugger)

2000 -- Union (Dugger)

2001 -- Union (Dugger)

2002 -- Union (Dugger)

2003 -- Linton-Stockton

2004 -- Linton-Stockton

2005 -- Union (Dugger)

2006 -- Linton-Stockton

2007 -- Linton-Stockton, Shakamak

2008 -- Linton-Stockton

Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference

Volleyball Champions

1997 -- Union (Dugger)

1998 -- Bloomfield

1999 -- Bloomfield

2000 -- Bloomfield

2001 -- Bloomfield

2002 -- Union (Dugger)

2003 -- Linton-Stockton

2004 -- Linton-Stockton

2005 -- Union (Dugger)

2006 -- Linton-Stockton

2007 -- Linton-Stockton, Shakamak

2008 -- Linton-Stockton