Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Belmont Volleyball (14-14, 11-5 OVC) fell to SIUE (8-18, 6-10 OVC) in the final conference game of the season, 17-25, 16-25, 27-25 and 20-25.
"SIUE played a great match on senior day and executed their game plan completely," said Head Coach Tony Howell. "We give credit to SIUE with the way they played today, and with their style of play they deserve to be in the tournament."
Senior Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) led the team with 10 kills hitting for an average of .350 along with four total blocks. Sophomore Arianna Person recorded 13 kills along with five total blocks. Freshman Tori Simmons (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and sophomore Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) each recorded eight kills while redshirt freshman Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) rounded out the offense with seven. Redshirt sophomore Emma Price (Fort Mill, SC) recorded 40 assists on the afternoon and sophomore Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) led the defense with 18 digs.
Lewis took the first point of set one but SIUE would take the next four and jumped out to a 4-1 lead. The two teams would trade points until the Cougars went on an eight to one run and took the lead to 13-5. It was a battle for points once again and the Bruins roped together three straight with Lewis at the service line and brought the score to 15-22, but SIUE would hold onto the lead taking set one 25-17. Person went 3-for-5 in set one on the attack.
SIUE once again took an early 9-3 advantage in set two. Belmont strung together a couple two point runs on several occasions bring the score with four 15-19. The Cougars would retaliate with a four-point run and went up 23-15. Despite a powerful kill from Youngdahl, the Bruins were unable to fight back as SIUE took set two 25-16. Lewis went 4-for-7 with only on error on the set.
Belmont came out strong in set three and went up 4-2. SIUE would tie the set at five and the two teams would trade points, and the lead until a four-point run from the Cougars put them up 14-10. Belmont responded taking four of the next five points. With SIUE up 17-14, Belmont roped together four straight and took an 18-17 advantage. Cougars would go up 22-20 but a three-point run put Belmont on top 23-22. The two teams battled back and forth into extra points until a kills from Simmons and an ace from Ivancich gave Belmont set three 27-25.
SIUE jumped out early in set four going up 7-1. The two teams would trade off points but a three point run from the Cougars put them up 12-4. Belmont responded with a three-point run and brought the score to 7-12. SIUE retaliated with six straight points pulling the lead to 18-7. Belmont went down fighting going on a late 11-3 run, but a kill from SIUE would close out set four 25-20.
"In preparation for the conference tournament, no matter what seed we are in, we need to be prepared mentally and emotionally for the most difficult tournament I've seen in awhile," said Howell. "Any eight teams are capable of winning this tournament and our practices next week will be in preparation for the tournament mentally, physically, and emotionally."
Ohio Valley Conference tournament will start on Thursday, Nov. 19 at Murray State. Seeds and game times are yet to be determined.
