Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.- - Belmont (17-8, 8-2) defeated conference-leading Lipscomb (16-7, 9-1) in four sets on Tuesday night in front of a boisterous crowd in the Curb Event Center. The win was the first in seven tries for the Bruins, who bounced back after a tough loss to Florida Gulf Coast last weekend. It was also the first loss for Lipscomb in A-Sun conference play since 2008, when the Lady Bisons lost the Bruins in the finals of the conference tournament. The win snapped a 44 conference match win streak and pushed Belmont's all-time series lead to 26-10.
A warm welcome from the Pembroke Hall boys, including a "war dance" to open the evening, set the tone for the Bruins, who opened the match with an impressive 25-15 win in set one.
"Great job by Pembroke tonight," Head Coach Deane Webb said of the opening festivities. "That may be one of the more creative pregame things I've ever seen at a volleyball game. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that outside of University of Hawaii football. They put a lot of time and prep into that and I think it started the night off right by relaxing our side and maybe affecting the other side as well. I sure am glad that they're here. We love having their support. They are just a joy to play in front of---the entire home crowd always is---but particularly led by those Pembroke guys. There are a lot years that they've been good, but this year, they've been special."
Lipscomb rebounded with a tough 29-27 win in set two to tie the match going into intermission. Belmont came out of the break and earned another lopsided set victory, taking set three 25-16. In set four, the two teams traded points throughout, each holding two point leads toward the end of the match, only to see the other team come roaring back. The Bruins ultimately came back and prevailed, winning 26-24 and taking the match, 3-1.
"It was a good win for our team," Webb said. "Obviously, any time you can play against and beat a team that has been as successful as Lipscomb, it's a great win for our girls. I'm really happy to see them enjoy tonight and enjoy that level of success."
The win will certainly help erase the bitter taste left from last weekend's loss to Florida Gulf Coast, a loss that hurt Belmont's chances at a third regular season title and dropped them two games behind Lipscomb. The Bruins got one of those games back tonight.
"Every match is different and every opponent is different and although our two losses in conference have been close and been painful, it is about improving and really being in control of ourselves physically, mentally, emotionally and I'm really pleased with how our team emotionally handled tonight."
Belmont got a strong performance from Preseason Player of the Year Maggie Johnson (Naperville, Ill.). The senior lived up to the preseason hype with 21 kills and a .339 hitting percentage. She also had two service aces, 16 digs and a team-high three solo blocks.
"Maggie was outstanding," Webb said. "There's really no other word other than she was just outstanding tonight. To have 56 attempts and only two hitting errors, that's phenomenal. Of course, to back that up with the all-around play she always brings us defensively and in serve receive and with the blocks, I'm happy for her to have that level of success. She showed tonight why she's one of the best players in the conference."
The win was the first for Belmont in seven meetings and the first for the Bruins since that conference championship in 2008. Only the senior class had ever experienced a win over Lipscomb until tonight. With Belmont leaving for the Ohio Valley Conference, the meetings between the two teams may become a once a season event, making tonight's win and the rivalry even more special.
"It's true, for it be a rivalry, there needs to be wins on both sides," Webb said of the all-time series. "There were a lot of years that it was a one-sided rivalry in our direction and then in the last three years it's been a one-sided rivalry their direction. We look at Lipscomb as an opponent that we respect and as someone that we know that we'll need to play great to beat. Certainly they brought out the best in us tonight."
The Bruins will face Kennesaw State in another critical conference match on Saturday, Nov. 5th. The match will mark the final home game for three seniors and will include Senior Day ceremonies for the Bruins. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
"It will be a great opportunity to honor all three of our seniors," Webb said. "Channing (Salava), Lexi (Adams) and Maggie (Johnson) have given a great deal to our program during their time here both on and off the court. We'd love for that to be a great day just to honor them. The match will take care of itself. We'll prepare and we'll play hard, but really, to just enjoy those moments for those ladies who have been great representatives of our program and of our university."
