Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - The Belmont volleyball squad (1-1) fell to Northern Colorado (2-0) in three sets, 25-19, 25-19, 25-18 Saturday morning in the fifth annual Belmont Invitational in the Curb Event Center.
Despite a tough battle from Belmont, Northern Colorado took the opening set, 25-19. The Bruins got on the board first and the two squads exchanged points back and forth. Back-to-back kills from sophomore Alex Martin (Ooletwah, Tenn.) gave Belmont a two-point lead. The Bears wouldn't allow Belmont to extend their lead as the set remained close.
Northern Colorado went on a 4-0 run to take their first lead of the set, but a kill from sophomore Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) silenced them. However, the Bears were able to regain a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The Bears took a 22-16 lead, but kills from junior Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Martin brought Belmont within four, but it wasn't enough as Northern Colorado took the first set.
The second set began much like the first, with the two teams battling back and forth early. Northern Colorado jumped to an early lead, but the Bruins remained close.
Northern Colorado took a 2-0 lead at the break as the Bears who took the second set, 25-19. Northern Colorado held Belmont to a .114 hitting percentage in the second set.
A kill from Martin and a Bears attack error, allowed the Bruins to come within one, but Northern Colorado continued to pull away and scored four unanswered points. Once again, Martin silenced them and Belmont capitalized on consecutive errors, but it wasn't enough, as Northern Colorado extended their lead.
After the break, Belmont took a 2-1 lead before the Bears went on a 6-0 run, taking a 7-2 lead. Northern Colorado continued to lead as the Bruins trailed by as many as seven, but the squad continued to fight back. It wasn't enough as the Bears continued to remain perfect in the Belmont Invitational.
Martin led the Bruins with a game-high 13 kills, while Gable and junior Danielle Prochaska (Middleton, Wisc.) each added six. Freshman setter Regan Kennamer (Huntsville, Ala.) dished out 31 assists. Junior Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) paced the team with 13 digs while Gable added nine.
The Bruins will be back in action this evening in the Belmont Invitational finale against TCU at 6 p.m.
