MOREHEAD, Ky. – Belmont volleyball (17-15, 11-5) downed Southeast Missouri in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday night at Morehead State in five sets.
With the win the Bruins, who joined the OVC in July, advance to the OVC Championship match tomorrow.
"What a great win tonight for our team and program," said head coach Deane Webb. "Our team did a good job serving aggressively to limit SEMO's ability to run the middle. Yarber still had an outstanding match, but it allowed us to slow down some of their other players."
Southeast Missouri got on the board first, but it didn't take long for Belmont to respond. Both teams exchanged points, tying the opening set numerous times.
A kill from Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Texas) started a run for the Bruins as they scored three unanswered points, before the Redhawks responded with a kill. Belmont responded again with back-to-back kills from Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.), putting BU up 18-14.
The Bruins continued to extend their lead and behind kills from Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.), Belmont closed out the set 25-17.
SEMO struck first again this time taking a 4-1 lead. Kills from McCoy and Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) put the Bruins within two, but the Redhawks continued to extend their lead. A run sparked by McCoy closed the gap, with BU coming within two again, 14-12, and another run started by a kill from McCoy tied the set at 16-all.
"On our side, our passers allowed us to be in system and get 50% more swings by our middles than our opponents," said Webb. "We know if we get in system that our middles can score, and today that was certainly the case. Allison and Alex both had huge matches, getting 36 kills on 60 swings and hitting over .500."
With the set tied at 16-all, SEMO put together a 4-0 run before Belmont responded with a 4-0 run, tying the set once again, at 20-all.
The second set was tied again twice, before SEMO won the set, 25-23.
After the break, the Redhawks took an early 2-1 lead before a kill from Jocelyn Youngdahl started a run for Belmont, allowing the Bruins to scored six unanswered points before SEMO responded. Belmont answered quickly going on a 5-0 run to take a 12-3 lead.
The Bruins continued to maintain their lead and won the set, 25-13, behind a pair of kills from Martin.
In the fourth set, the Redhawks took control early, taking a 3-1 lead and they continued to hold off the Bruins.
A kill from Myer and a Miranda ace, tied the set at 11-all before SEMO responded and took a one-point lead, before the set was tied six times. The Redhawks scored three unanswered points taking a 21-17 lead and winning the set, 25-20, which tied the match at two sets apiece.
In the fifth and deciding set, Belmont took a 5-0 lead, forcing the Redhawks to call a timeout. Following the timeout, SEMO scored three unanswered points before McCoy silenced their run. Kills from Gable and Myer extended the Bruins' lead, 8-3.
Martin and Youngdahl helped give the Bruins a 12-8 lead and the Redhawks came within four-points, but a kill from Myer won the set for the Bruins, 15-10, advancing Belmont to the championship match tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
McCoy lead the team with 20 kills and a .486 hitting percentage. Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) registered 36 digs while Miranda dished out 65 assists. Myer and Gable each recorded double-doubles. Myer recorded 16 digs and 14 kills while Gable had 12 digs and 10 kills.
"Jamie had a great match for us defensively, and we're going to need her to do the same tomorrow. We're giving her a great deal of defensive responsibility against Morehead and I'm looking forward to watching her play," said Webb.
Belmont advances to the OVC Championship match tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. The Bruins will face the winner of the Morehead State and Tennessee State match.
"Tomorrow is the match we've been looking forward to all year," said Webb. "Morehead is as outstanding team, and have dominated the OVC in recent years. We know we'll need to play our best match of the year to earn the win, and we intend to do so."
