Box Score MARTIN, Tenn. - - Belmont volleyball responded to the challenge of playing without a key starter Friday evening as the Bruins returned to OVC action with a sweep of UT Martin (25-23, 25-18, 25-21).
BU started its OVC weekend road trip without freshman outside hitter Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan). Person came into the match with UTM as the team leader in both kills and solo blocks while ranking second in digs.
With a leader sidelined, the Bruins rose to the occasion, as senior Alex Martin (Ooltewah, Tenn.) led a Belmont squad that controlled the contest with the Skyhawks from start to finish.
The opening set was a back and fourth affair as the two teams traded leads throughout the stanza.
With Belmont up 23-21 late, UTM used two consecutive points to tie the match causing the Bruins to take a timeout.
Belmont responded coming out of the huddle as BU tallied two consecutive points in order to capture the set, 25-23.
Martin led Belmont throughout as the middle blocker notched a perfect hitting percentage on the set, laying down four kills on four swings.
The Bruins carried that momentum over to the second set as Belmont raced out to a 10-3 advantage early.
UTM (10-14, 3-7 OVC) rallied midway through the stanza as the Skyhawks drew to within three, 14-11, before the Bruins tallied four of the next five points to make it an 18-12 Bruin advantage.
Following the run, BU never looked back as a pair of kills by Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) ended the set in the Bruins' favor, 25-18.
Martin continued her torrid hitting pace in the second set as the veteran recorded four kills off five swings for BU.
Belmont (11-12, 7-2 OVC) found itself with a slim, 21-20, lead late in the third stanza. The Bruins finished off the match, 25-21, by tallying four of the next five points as BU completed the sweep over the home team.
Martin led the Bruins on the night with a near double-double of 11 kills and nine digs. The senior ended the match with a match-best .562 hitting percentage.
Youngdahl made an impact on both the offensive and defensive end as the middle blocker finished with 8 kills to go with five blocks.
Freshman Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) also added eight kills while senior Scarlet Gable (Munford, Tenn.) paced the team with 11 digs to go with 5 kills.
Setter Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) finished with 35 assists and 7 digs on the evening.
Belmont returns to action tomorrow afternoon as the Bruins travel to Southeast Missouri State for a 2 p.m. CT match with the RedHawks.
