NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont (11-6) will host two key conference matches this weekend as the Bruins face ETSU and USC Upstate in the Curb Event Center. The A-Sun weekend starts Friday at 7:15 p.m. when Belmont hosts ETSU and concludes with the Saturday 2 p.m. match against USC Upstate. Saturday's match will also be Belmont's Dig for the Cure event.
The Bruins opened Atlantic Sun play 2-0 last weekend with victories over Kennesaw State and Mercer on the road. Belmont currently sits atop the conference standings and also tops the league in several statistical categories including assists, digs, and service aces. The Bruins also boast the only player in the conference to have earned Player of the Week honors twice in senior Maggie Johnson. Johnson is currently the conference leader in kills and points and is rapidly climbing the A-Sun and Belmont career record lists in kills and attacks. Belmont also has the league's top setter in sophomore Hannah Miranda and the nation's best server in sophomore Jen Myer, who ranked first in the national standings for the third straight week.
This weekend's matches mark the beginning of a crucial week in conference play for the Bruins as the team meets Lipscomb in a midweek match next Thursday. Belmont finished last season with only three conference losses: to Lipscomb, Kennesaw State, and ETSU, en route to a fourth place finish. The Bruins have already secured a win over Kennesaw State and will look to earn a victory over ETSU as well to set up a potential Battle of the Boulevard match for the top spot in the conference when the team meets Lipscomb on Oct. 6th.
Belmont is 6-3 all time against ETSU, but the Buccaneers have won two of the last three matches, including a five set match last season in Johnson City. ETSU went on to finish third in the league standings and advanced to the conference finals against Lipscomb. The Bucs are the top blocking team in the conference and boast two players in the top five in blocking, led by Jamie Stancliff. The Bruins are currently a close second in the conference in kills and are tops in assists, setting up an intriguing offense versus defense match up with ETSU on Friday. The Buccaneers are coming off a bye week after beating USC Upstate in a midweek conference match 10 days ago.
The Bruins are 6-0 all-time against USC Upstate. The Spartans are fresh off a five set victory over Gardner-Webb on Tuesday and have won two of their last three matches. Belmont is riding a five match win streak into the conference weekend, which is their longest streak of the season. The Bruins have won nine of the last 10 matches. Saturday's match will also be Belmont's Dig for the Cure event as the Bruins partner with the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Greater Nashville to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. Susan G. Komen will have an informational table set up during the match and the AST sorority will provide a face painting booth for children.
Live stats and full recaps, as well as season statistics will be available at www.belmontbruins.com. Both matches will be broadcast on ASun.TV and links to the video feed will be available at www.belmontbruins.com. Belmont faces ETSU at 7:15 p.m. on Friday and the Curb Event Center and then hosts USC Upstate on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Match Notes
