RICHMOND, Ky. – Belmont volleyball (5-11) swept Eastern Kentucky (3-9, 0-2), 30-28, 25-23, 26-24 Saturday afternoon en route to the team's first win in the Ohio Valley Conference.
"'Every win in conference is important, particularly when we can get one on the road," said head coach Deane Webb.
Belmont jumped out to a 7-3 lead behind two service aces from freshman Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.). The Colonels silenced a few Belmont runs to come within two points, 14-12, but a kill from sophomore Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) sparked a short run to extend the Bruins lead by four.
Eastern Kentucky tied the set at 18, before taking a 24-22 lead. Youngdahl and an attack error allowed the Bruins to tie the set at 24. The set saw three ties in the closing points before Belmont took the win 30-28.
In the second set, Eastern Kentucky took an early lead before the Bruins tied the set at 9 and took the lead off back-to-back EKU attack errors, 11-10.
The Colonels tied the set at 15 and took a 19-17 lead before a kill from junior Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Texas) put Belmont within one. The Bruins regained control of the set, taking a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead at the break.
After the break, the Colonels jumped out to an early lead, but the Bruins remained close. Redshirt freshman Maddison Croft (Edwardsville, Ill.) sparked a 4-0 run that tied the set at 16 and took at 17-16 lead before EKU tied the set at 17.
After the set was tied at 20, Belmont jumped out to a two point lead, 23-21 behind kills from Croft and Gable. With the Bruins leading by one, 24-23, a kill from Youngdahl and two EKU attack errors gave Belmont the clean sweep, 26-24.
Gable led the Bruins with 13 kills while fellow sophomore Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) added 11. Junior setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) dished out 41 assists while junior libero Jamie Lundstrom tallied 17 digs.
"Scarlet and Alex played well throughout the match, and Jocelyn showed a great deal of versatility in playing multiple positions," said Webb.
Belmont will be back action Tuesday as the team hosts Tennessee State for a 6 p.m. match.
