NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont volleyball (18-13, 11-4) swept crosstown rival Tennessee State Wednesday night in the Curb Event Center.
Belmont won the opening set, 25-18 after jumping out to an early 11-5 lead over TSU. The Tigers silenced their run, but the Bruins continued to extend their lead, 13-6 behind a kill from freshman Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.).
Both teams exchanged points in the early in the first set. With the set tied at 8-8, a kill from junior Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) sparked a 4-0 run, putting the Bruins ahead, 12-8. TSU came within two, 14-12, but Belmont scored six unanswered points behind a kill from senior Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Tex.). The Bruins reached the set point, 24-17 and the Tigers responded with four straight points to keep the set alive before a kill from Vestal ended the set, 25-21.
After the break, both teams fought back and forth. With the set tied at 7-7, kills from junior Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and senior Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) sparked a 6-1 run, putting the Bruins ahead, 13-8. Three TSU errors allowed Belmont to extend their lead, 22-13. Belmont ended the set behind kills from Vestal and McCoy to conclude the sweep, 25-16.
Vestal registered a double-double with a team-high 12 kills and 11 digs. McCoy added 10 kills while senior setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) dished out 35 assists and senior libero Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) had 18 digs.
Belmont will conclude the regular season on Saturday with Eastern Illinois. The seniors will be honored prior to the match that is scheduled for 2:00pm.
