Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Seniors Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) and Regan Kennamer (Huntsville, Ala.) stepped onto the court in the Curb one last time and led Belmont Volleyball (13-11, 10-2 OVC) to a three set victory over Eastern Kentucky (8-20, 7-5 OVC).
"We take pride in training a team of 12 girls rather then seven or eight which leads to the ability to have a team that plays together no matter what the line-up is," said Head Coach Tony Howell. "For Regan and Jocelyn to play together on senior night for the first time in awhile was great, and to take home the match in three over a great program was even better."
Youngahl recorded 10 kills and only one error for an average of .429 along with six digs and two blocks. Fellow senior Kennamer recorded 41 assists on the evening along with nine digs and three total blocks. Sophomore Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) led the offense with 13 kills along with 11 digs and sophomore Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) recorded 11 kills, three service aces and nine digs. Redshirt freshman Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) finished the evening with an average of .500 recording seven kills. Sophomore Emily Richards (Penfield, N.Y.) led the back row with 14 digs.
Eastern Kentucky jumped out to an early lead in set one taking seven of the first eight points. A six-point run from the Bruins, which included three aces from Lewis, gave Belmont their first advantage of the set 11-10. Belmont trailed 23-21 but fought back and closed out the set 26-24 with two kills from Person.
EKU once again come on strong and took an early 9-5 lead in set two. Belmont responded taking five of the next six points to notch the set at 10. The Colonels roped together a late 5-1 run to take the lead 20-17. Belmont retaliated with three kills and a momentum building block from seniors Youngdahl and Kennamer to tie it up at 21.
In opposition of the first two sets of the match Belmont jumped out to an early 8-5 lead in set three. EKU roped together three straight and tied the set at nine. Bruins responded with four straight and once again took the lead 13-9. The two teams fought for points with Belmont maintaining the advantage, and with a block from Kennamer, an ace from Ivancich and a kill from Person Belmont would take home set three and the match.
Belmont hits the road once again next weekend and will play Jacksonville State Friday Oct. 6 and Tennessee Tech Saturday Oct. 7.
