Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont volleyball came into Friday's match with Murray State (15-4, 6-1 OVC) with plenty of momentum as the Bruins had captured five consecutive matches but the Racers, led by sophomore Scottie Ingram, stymied the Bruin attack as MSU prevailed at the Curb Event Center in three sets (22-25, 21-25, 19, 25).
The opening stanza was a back and forth affair throughout as the two teams found themselves knotted at 20 late in the set.
The Racers took control the rest of the way as Murray State tallied four of the next five points to create set point, 24-21.
After a Bruin kill by senior Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.), an Ingram kill ended the set in the Racers favor as Murray State prevailed, 25-22.
Belmont found themselves leading midway through the second set, 12-10, but a MSU run took control back in the visitor's favor as the Racers tallied the next five points.
Murray State never relinquished its lead, taking the set, 25-21, off another kill from Ingram.
Bruins came out of the locker room with a renewed sense of spirit as the Belmont raced out to a 10-5 advantage in the third set.
Murray State once again responded to the Belmont attack as the Racers scored six of the next seven points in order to tie the set at 11.
Back and forth play followed as the two teams stood knotted at 14 before Murray State laid down six-straight kills as the Racers raced ahead, 20-14.
The Bruins couldn't recover from the Racer run as Murray State took the set, 25-19, and the match, 3-0.
Freshman Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) led the Bruins on the night as the outside hitter had another double-double effort with 14 kills and 11 digs.
Martin paced the Bruins with a .375 hitting percentage as the middle blocker tallied seven kills off 16 swings while fellow senior Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) recorded a team-high 13 digs.
Ingram finished the night with a game-high 22 kills off a .422 hitting percentage. The back-to-back OVC Offensive Player of the Week also added 10 digs for the Racers.
Belmont (9-11, 5-2 OVC) will look rebound quickly as the Bruins return to the court tomorrow afternoon as BU is set to host Austin Peay at 12:30 p.m. CT at the Curb Event Center.
