NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont volleyball (19-13, 12-4) concluded the regular season with a four set win over Eastern Illinois on Senior Day.
In the opening set, Belmont took a 10-0 lead. During the run, junior Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) had back-to-back aces and senior setter Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) posted three kills. Eastern Illinois responded with a pair of kills, but Belmont continued to extend their lead behind a kill from freshman Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) to put the Bruins ahead, 16-3.
The Panthers scored three straight until a kill from Gable silenced their run. A 3-1 run ended the set for Belmont, 25-14.
Belmont opened the second set with a 6-0 lead before Eastern Illinois scored four unanswered points to cut the Bruins' lead to two, 6-4. A kill from Vestal started a 5-0 run to extend Belmont's lead to 11-4. The Panthers put together a 6-1 run to come within three, 17-14, but a Vestal kill silenced their run.
Both teams exchanged points with EIU cutting Belmont's lead to one point, 24-23 but a kill from Vestal ended the set, 25-23 to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead at the break.
The Bruins got on the board first in the third set and both teams exchanged points. EIU had a 12-11 lead before Belmont scored four straight points sparked by a Panthers serving error. A kill from Gable gave Belmont the set point, 24-22, but EIU responded with three straight points to take a 25-24 lead. A kill from senior Jen Myer (New Braunfels, Tex.) tied the set at 25-25. EIU was able to score two straight points and win the set, 27-25.
In the fourth set, Belmont jumped out to a 10-2 lead. A kill from Vestal sparked another run and continued to extend the Bruins' lead, 20-9. A block by Vestal and senior Danielle Prochaska (Middleton, Wisc.) earned the Bruins the set point, 24-12, but EIU kept the set alive scoring six straight points until a Panthers serving error ended the set, 25-19.
Vestal led the team with 17 kills and senior Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) added 13 kills and hit .423. Miranda dished out 47 assists and senior Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) had 17 digs.
The Ohio Valley Conference Tournament begins on Thursday, November 21 in Morehead, Ky. Check BelmontBruins.com for complete tournament information.
