Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas. - - Belmont volleyball (1-4) dropped their second match of the UTSA Invitational to UTEP (1-3) this afternoon, 25-20, 25-20, 25-21.
"Hannah and our middles were truly outstanding offensively today," said head coach Deane Webb. "I can't remember a time that we've had that many attempts, scored at that level, and had zero errors. Although we don't like the results we're getting early in our season, each day we find one more piece that is starting to click offensively."
UTEP jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, but a kill from junior Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) brought the Bruins within one. The Miners put together some small runs to extend their lead.
Belmont battled back with a 4-0 run to put the score at 21-19, but UTEP closed out the first set, 25-20.
McCoy led the Bruins in the first set with five kills, while redshirt freshman Maddison Croft (Edwardsville, Ill.) added four.
The second set started with the Bruins taking a 2-0 lead over the Miners with sophomore Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) beginning the set with a kill. The set remained close throughout with the two teams exchanging points, but again UTEP was able to hold off the Bruins and take 2-0 lead at the break, winning the second set 25-20.
UTEP took the court after the break to score three unanswered points, before an attack error gave Belmont them their first point of the set.
Belmont remained close with the Miners and went on a 4-0 run in the middle of the set, but UTEP was able to answer back and extend their lead. The Bruins were able to fight back to come stay within two, 23-21 with kills from McCoy and junior setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) but it wasn't enough as UTEP recorded back-to-back kills to close out the set, 25-21.
Once again McCoy and Croft paced the Bruins each recording five kills in the third set.
McCoy tallied a total of 14 kills, which is a season-high while Croft recorded eight, also a season-high.
Junior libero Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) paced the defense with 19 digs. Miranda added 12 and Gable added 11 digs.
Miranda also recorded a season-high 31 assists.
Belmont will be back in action tomorrow as they face UTSA again at noon.
