Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Belmont volleyball (13-15, 9-6) fell to Morehead State in four sets, in the team's final home match of the season.
"It was a tough loss today," said head coach Deane Webb. "Morehead State is a good team, there's a reason they're 14-0 in conference. Hats off to them, they earned the regular season title last night and they came in here and played very well today."
The first set opened close as both Belmont and Morehead State put together short runs with neither team leading by more than two points. The Eagles scored three unanswered points to take a 16-12 lead before Belmont silenced their run with three straight points to put the Bruins within one, 16-15.
Morehead State (22-6, 14-0) took a 20-17 lead but back-to-back kills from junior Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) put the Bruins within one, 20-19. Behind consecutive kills from sophomore Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) Belmont tied the set at 22.
A pair of errors from the Eagles and a kill from freshman Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) gave Belmont the 25-23 win in set one.
The second set began much like the first, until Morehead State scored six consecutive points to take an 11-5 lead. The Bruins responded with a 3-0 run sparked by Martin. However, Morehead State continued to extend their lead, as they scored six straight points, to take a 23-13 lead.
Morehead State closed out the set, 25-14, evening the match at one set each.
After the break, the Eagles got on the board first and the two teams battled back and forth, exchanging points. Junior Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Texas) scored back-to-back service aces to put Belmont up 6-4. Morehead State responded with a short run, tying the set at 8-all.
Kills from McCoy and Youngdahl allowed the Bruins to take a two-point lead 10-8, but the Eagles responded with three-straight points to take the lead. An ace and a kill from Myer give Belmont a two-point lead, 15-13, but the Eagles scored nine unanswered points to take a 22-15 lead in the third set.
Morehead State won the set, 25-16 and took a 2-1 lead.
The Bruins got on the board first in the fourth set, before Morehead State jumped out to a 7-1 lead. Belmont responded with a 4-0 run, closing the gap, 7-6.
MSU continued to extend their lead, taking a six point lead before Myer sparked a short run bringing the Bruins within three-points, 16-13. Belmont put together short runs, but it wasn't enough to hand the Eagles their first loss in conference action.
"I think we played very well in the first set," said Webb. "After that we just struggled. I don't know that we were in system very much as far as passes. They did a much better job getting in the system and allowing their middles to get involved. It's tough to beat a team when they are that much more in system than we are."
Myer led the team with 11 kills. Youngdahl and McCoy each added 10 kills from the Bruins while junior Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) dished out 41 assists. Junior libero Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) paced the defense with 16 digs. Myer and Gable each added 12 digs.
Belmont will wrap up the regular season on the road Tuesday at Tennessee State and Friday at Eastern Illinois.
