Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont volleyball (5-12, 2-2) swept SIUE (6-9, 2-2), 25-17, 25-14, 25-15 on Saturday afternoon for their first OVC win in the Curb Event Center.
"It's a team we knew had a chance to be very good if they were in the system," said head coach Deane Webb. "We knew we had to serve aggressively to get their middles out of system. I was very pleased by our execution and being able to be consistent all the way through."
Belmont jumped out to a 5-2 lead over SIUE in the opening set, before the Cougars brought the score within one, 5-4. The Bruins continued to put together short runs and a kill from junior Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Texas) gave Belmont a six-point lead. SIUE responded with a kill, but sophomore Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) allowed the Bruins to maintain their six-point lead.
Belmont took a 21-15 lead behind another kill from Myer. The Bruins scored two unanswered points and took a seven-point lead after an SIUE service error, 24-17, and Belmont closed out the first set, 25-17.
In the opening set, the Bruins held SIUE to a .061 hitting percentage.
Belmont took an early 2-0 lead before putting together a few short runs to take an 8-4 lead over the Cougars. Myer sparked a 4-0 run that led to the Bruins extending their lead to eight.
Sophomore Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) sparked a run that led to four unanswered points and allowed the Bruins to take an eleven-point lead, 22-11.
A kill from feshman Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) put Belmont within one of a set point, but SIUE went on a 2-0 run before Martin closed out the set with a kill and gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead at the half.
As a team, Belmont recorded five blocks in two sets.
After the break, SIUE got on the board first, but Belmont responded with three unanswered points. A kill from Myer sparked another run, giving the Bruins an eight-point lead, 15-5.
Belmont extended their lead to 12-points behind kills from Myer and junior setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.).
Youngdahl gave Belmont a 24-12 lead before the Cougars scored two points before Martin closed out the set, 25-15.
Martin led the Bruins with a .733 hitting percentage and 11 kills. Myer recorded 13 kills. Junior libero Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.), Miranda and Gable all tallied 12 digs. Miranda dished out 38 assists.
"Alex had another great night, and I think part of that was Jen. Jen attacked really well and caused the blocks to make some early decisions, which allowed Alex some better swings," said Webb. "Those two together working in conjunction with each other, one hits .700, one hits .355, that's an outstanding job on both those girls."
The Bruins will continue their home stand this weekend with Jacksonville State on Friday and Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Friday's match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
