Box Score CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.-- A week and a half ago Chattanooga (3-9)
defeated Belmont (5-8) on the Bruins' home floor taking the match
2-3. In a rematch Saturday night, Belmont did the same, knocking
off the Lady Mocs in straight sets, 3-0, in the first match of the
Country Inn & Suites Invitational in Chattanooga.
The Bruins were led by junior setter and two-time all-conference
selection Channing
Salava (Clearwater, Fla.), who paced the team with 34 assists
and recorded a season-high six aces, the most by any Bruin this
season. Belmont also got continued strong contribution from senior
Kayla
Albritton (Gainesville, Fla.), who led the team with 12 kills
and posted a .455 hitting percentage.
Against Lipscomb Tuesday night, attack errors and blocking
errors proved costly for Belmont. The Bruins committed 60 unforced
errors on Tuesday but reduced that number drastically tonight,
committing only 22 errors. Added to the reduced errors were 14
service aces. Five different players registered at least one ace
and three players recorded multiple service aces. Belmont ranks
30th in the nation in service aces and leads the
Atlantic Sun Conference in that category.
"The difference tonight is that our serve was an asset to our
team," Head Coach Deane Webb said. "Last time we played, we
were not focused from the serving line, but tonight it was a great
weapon for us. Channing particularly was effective serving, at one
point going on a 10 point run. Six aces with only one error is
an outstanding ace to error ratio."
In addition to the strong performances from Albritton and
Salava, the Bruins also got good production from freshman middle
hitter Allison
McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.), who recorded seven kills and
a .400 hitting percentage for the fifth time this season (with 10
attacks or more). Senior Tara Blood
(Boise, Idaho) led the all hitters with a .500 hitting percentage,
scoring seven kills on 14 attacks and no hitting errors. Preseason
all-conference selection junior Maggie
Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) added eight kills while senior
libero Megan
Clements (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the team with 17 digs.
"We attacked very well on the middle and right side," Webb
said. "For our middles, 14 kills with 1 error is a great stat
line. We have to give credit to our passers to consistently
put us in system and allow us those opportunities."
Belmont is now 5-3 all time against Chattanooga, including a 3-2
mark on the road. The meeting was the 31st between the
Bruins and an opponent from the Southern Conference. Belmont now
owns a 10-21 record against the Southern Conference and 4-11 on the
road against SoCon teams.
The weekend tournament continues tomorrow as Belmont faces first
time opponent James Madison out of the Colonial Athletic
Association in an 8 a.m. match. The Bruins are 4-7 all time against
teams from the CAA and an even 2-2 on neutral courts. Belmont will
also face Central Florida on Saturday. The Bruins are 0-4 against
UCF all-time but have never faced the Knights on a neutral court.
First serve for Belmont's final match in the Country Inn &
Suites Invitational is set for 3:30 p.m.
"JMU (James Madison) is a scrappy team with a very dynamic right
side attacker and a middle that is very good off one
foot. They attack out of the back row more than the majority
of teams that we see, so we'll need to defend that well. UCF
(Central Florida) is a team with a great history of success, and
we're glad to have the opportunity to play them again."
Post-Match Quotes
