MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Belmont volleyball (3-9) fell to Memphis (4-8) in four sets, 21-25, 25-18, 18-25, 17-25, Friday evening in the Tiger Invitational.
Memphis got on the board first, but a kill from sophomore Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) sparked a 4-0 run to give Belmont a 5-3 lead. The Bruins continued to extend their lead until the Tigers tied the set at 12 and took over a lead they would not relinquish.
A kill from junior setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) put Belmont back within one, 21-20, but the Tigers took the set, 25-21.
Redshirt freshman Maddison Croft (Edwardsville, Ill.) put Belmont on the board first as the Bruins jumped out to a 6-0 lead. The Tigers brought the score within two points before a kill from Miranda sparked a 4-0 run, giving Belmont a 10-4 lead.
The Tigers put together a few short runs, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Bruins en route to a 25-18 second set win.
Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Texas) and Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) each tallied five kills in the second set.
After the break, Memphis went on with a 4-0 lead until Myer silenced their run with a kill. Belmont came within four points, and a kill from Croft started a short run, bringing the score to 24-18, but the Tigers took the set, 25-18.
In the fourth set, Memphis took control early. A kill and an ace from Martin brought the Bruins within one, 12-11 before a run gave the Tigers a four point lead.
Belmont came within three, 16-13 behind a kill from Miranda but Memphis continued to extend their lead and took the set 25-17.
"This evening, our team played hard, and our middles were highly successful," said head coach Deane Webb. "As a coach, I need to do better job of getting our outside hitters in situations where they can be successful. We defended well as a team, and Alex had an incredible match offensively."
Martin, who recorded a .750 hitting percentage, led Belmont with 13 kills and two aces. Myer tallied nine kills while Miranda added seven kills and dished out 35 assists. Junior libero Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) paced the defense with 16 digs and Gable added 15.
Belmont will be back in action tomorrow against UIC for a 2 p.m. match.
