EVANSTON, Ill. – Belmont volleyball (1-5) dropped a pair of matches to Boise State and Northwestern Friday at the Wildcat Classic.
Senior libero Jamie Lundstrom (La Grange, Ill.) recorded nine digs in Friday's nightcap and became Belmont's all-time digs leader with 1,392. Lundstrom breaks the record of 1,387 digs that was set by Megan Clements in 2010.
"I am very proud of Jamie for setting the record for digs at Belmont. She has excelled both on and off the court throughout her career, and she deserves any successes that come her way," said head coach Deane Webb.
Boise State 3, Belmont 0
A service ace from Hannah Miranda (Covington, La.) got Belmont on the board first in the opening set, but four straight points for Boise State gave the Broncos the lead, 6-3. A kill from Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) and a Boise State error allowed Belmont to come within one point, however, the Broncos continued to extend their lead and take set one, 25-14.
Belmont jumped out a 3-1 lead in set two, but again the Broncos scored five straight points to take a three-point lead, 6-3. The Bruins battled back and came within one, 7-6, behind kills from Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) and Gable. Boise State went on another short run, but back-to-back kills from Allison McCoy (Huntington Beach, Calif.) silenced their run and put BU within one, 10-9.
Boise State went on an 8-4 run to close the set, 25-16 and take a 2-0 advantage at the break.
Despite a hard fought third set from the Bruins, Boise State won the set 25-22. With the score tied at 9, Belmont scored three straight to take a 12-11 lead. The Broncos responded by tying the set at 12 and scoring four unanswered points to regain the lead.
The Bruins overcame a four-point deficit and closed Boise State's lead to 21-20 due to another ace from Miranda and a kill from Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.). Boise State closed the set on a 4-2 run, taking the match in three.
Vestal led BU with 10 kills while Gable added eight. Miranda tallied 28 assists.
Northwestern 3, Belmont 1
The Bruins went on a 5-2 run over the Wildcats to take an 8-6 lead in the first set. Northwestern scored four unanswered points to take a 10-8 lead, and they continued to extend that lead. The Wildcats closed the set on a 7-2 run, taking a 25-14 win.
Belmont bounced back in the second set and winning the set, 32-30, as both teams battled back-and-forth. Kills from McCoy and Vestal gave BU a 11-10 lead. Northwestern responded, but a 5-2 run by the Bruins put the squad up by three.
With the set tied at 24, a kill from Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) gave Belmont a 25-24 lead. The Wildcats responded and both teams exchanged points until BU closed the set behind a kill from Vestal and a block by Miranda and Martin.
In the third set, Northwestern scored six unanswered points to take an 11-4 lead. The Bruins put together short runs and came within four. The Wildcats scored seven straight points to close the set, 25-14, and take a 2-1 advantage.
Northwestern jumped out to an early lead, 9-3, in the fourth set. Belmont rallied late as a kill from Youngdahl sparked a 6-2 run for BU, putting the squad within four, 20-16. However, it wasn't enough as the Wildcats put the set away, 25-17, on a 3-0 run.
Vestal led Belmont with 17 kills, while McCoy added 10. Miranda dished out 42 assists.
"We played well in sets two and four this evening. I'm very pleased with our middles and Jessica [Vestal]. Tonight was another important step for her," said coach Webb. "We are looking forward to playing a scrappy Columbia team tomorrow morning."
Belmont will face Columbia tomorrow morning in the Wildcat Classic at 10:00am.
