NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont volleyball (11-12, 4-3) defeated Southeast Missouri in four sets Friday night in the Curb Event Center.
In the opening set, Belmont struck first, but Southeast Missouri took the lead. The Bruins fought back to go on a 4-0 run and take a 14-8 lead over the Redhawks. Both teams exchanged points with the Bruins maintaining their lead.
A pair of kills from senior Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Tex.) and junior Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) ended the set, 25-20.
The second set was a very competitive one as both teams battled back and forth throughout with the largest lead being by three.
With the set tied at 14-14, a kill from sophomore Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) sparked a Belmont run that would result in a four-point lead, 18-14. Senior Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) recorded two kills in the run.
Southeast Missouri responded and came within two points, but a pair of kills from junior Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) extended the Bruins' lead, 22-17. Belmont took the set point, but SEMO kept the set alive scoring two straight points. Behind a kill from Gable, the Bruins won the set, 25-20 to take a 2-0 advantage at the break.
Belmont took an early 5-2 lead in the third set, but the Redhawks came back to tie the set at 5-5.
Southeast Missouri had a 20-17 lead, but the Bruins fought back to tie the set at 20-20. An ace from Myer put Belmont ahead 21-20 and the Redhawks responded with two straight points to regain a 23-21 lead. A kill from Martin kept set four alive as SEMO recorded the set point, but the Redhawks won the set, 25-23.
The Bruins went on a 6-0 run to take an 8-2 lead in the fourth set. Southeast Missouri responded, but Belmont continued to extend their lead. The Bruins went on to end the set, 25-14.
Myer and Martin both registered season-high kills at 17 and 16, respectively. Myer paced the defense with a career-high 40 digs, which ties the Curb Event Center record for digs in a single match. Youngdahl also recorded a season-high 20 digs.
Belmont returns to the court tomorrow as the team hosts UT Martin at 2:00pm.
