Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Volleyball defeated the Skyhawks of UT-Martin in four sets Friday evening 25-14, 22-25, 25-20 and 25-18.
"UT-Martin gave us a very good match tonight," said Head Coach Tony Howell. "They did some really good things in the middle of the match that was difficult for us to stop. Once we were able to get back into our rhythm we were able to take control of the set."
Sophomore Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) led the offense with 18 kills. Sophomore Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) recorded 11 kills for a team high average of .450. Senior Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) recorded 11 kills as well along with three blocks. Redshirt freshman Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) finished the evening with 10 kills along with five blocks. Sophomore Emma Price (Fort Mill, SC) also recorded five blocks along with six kills and 54 assists. Freshman Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) rounded out the offense with six kills on the evening. Sophomores Emily Richards (Penfield, N.Y.) and Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) combined for a total of 25 digs on the evening.
"Our middles, right sides and outsides were all effective this evening," said Howell. "It was great to play Martin and have the chance to learn, grow and improve in order to prepare for the tournament."
Belmont broke away early in set going on an eight-point run taking a 16-7 lead. The run was highlighted by kills from Person, Price and Nichols along with the aid of a handful of errors from the Skyhawks. Despite a late set push by Martin, the Bruins continued an aggressive attack and closed out set one 25-14. With 15 kills, two aces and three blocks Belmont earned 20 of their 25 points, hitting for an average of .355.
The Bruins pushed ahead early in set two and took a 5-1 lead, with two kills from Person and one from Youngdahl. The two teams traded points until Martin tied the set at 11. The Bruins and the Skyhawks would go point-for-point with Belmont holding the advantage until an error from Lewis gave Martin the 20-19 lead. A kill from Youngdahl would lock the set up at 20. It was a battle for both teams to get their last five points but two kills from Martin would close out set two 25-22.
Set three was a tug-of-war for points until a four-point run with Person at the service line gave Belmont a 17-13 lead. Neither team would back down in set three as both the Bruins and the Skyhawks fought for every point. With Belmont in the lead 22-20, Nichols and Person would combine for a kill each along with a block to end set three.
Belmont and Martin were in a constant battle for points in set four until two kills from Person and one from Nichols forced Martin's head coach to call a timeout with the Bruins up 13-9. With the set close at 14-12 Belmont roped together four quick points and went up 18-12. Martin could not find a way back into the fourth set as the aggressive attack from Belmont proved to be superior taking set four 25-19.
Belmont returns to action Saturday Oct. 24 at the Curb Event Center against Southeast Missouri State University. First serve is set for 2:00 p.m. CT and will close out Alumni weekend.
