Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- The Belmont volleyball team pushed their winning streak to five and moved to 7-2 in conference play with a closely-contested four set victory over Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Fla. on Saturday.
"Tonight was a strong mental performance for our team," Head Coach Deane Webb said. "Our team took advantage of the opportunities we were given, and earned a very good win."
The Bruins avenged an earlier loss to FGCU and won for only the second time in the series against the Eagles. Belmont won the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-16, before falling in a close set three, 27-29. The Bruins bounced back to take the fourth set 25-19. After winning the first three matches of the five-game win streak in straight sets, Belmont needed four sets twice this weekend to complete a road-sweep against Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast. The ability to close out matches was something the Bruins struggled to do consistently earlier this season. Lately, though, Belmont has greatly improved in that area.
"I am impressed with how far our team has come emotionally and mentally this year," Webb said. "Our leaders are taking us to a great place, and I'm proud of them."
Senior Kayla Albritton (Gainesville, Fla.) led Belmont with 17 kills while junior Maggie Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) added 13 kills. Johnson also had 15 digs on the night. Two other Bruins, seniors Carly Frazier (Stillwater, Okla.) and Tara Blood (Boise, Idaho), also had double-digit kills. Frazier finished with 10 kills, a season high, and two service aces. Blood finished with 11 kills and a team high .688 hitting percentage on an impressive offensive performance. Freshman Hannah Miranda (Covington, Ill.) again led the Bruins with 50 assists, while senior libero Megan Clements (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the team with 20 digs. Clements also led Belmont with three service aces.
"Carly did a nice job for us on the right side tonight, providing accurate hitting while committing very few errors," Webb said. "Kayla provided enough offensive pressure that, although she didn't hit for a high percentage, she drew the attention of the other side's defense. Tara was just incredible tonight, and was a gamechanger both offensively and defensively. It is great to see all three senior attackers helping our team succeed at this important time of year. Hannah has really come into her own as a setter, and is putting our hitters in good positions to score."
Belmont returns to action on short rest, facing rival Lipscomb in a conference match at Lipscomb on Tuesday, Nov. 9. It will be the first mid-week game for the Bruins since early September. The match is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
"Tuesday is a great opportunity as we continue to prepare for the postseason," Webb said. "Lipscomb is a good team, and we know we'll need to play very well to earn the win."
