Box Score COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont Volleyball (14-12, 11-3 OVC) lost a five set heartbreaker to Tennessee Tech (7-20, 5-9 OVC) Saturday evening.
Senior Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) led the offensive effort with 17 kills hitting for an average of .400. Sophomore Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) followed closely behind with 16, sophomore Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) had 12, redshirt freshman Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) recorded 10 and freshman Courtlyn Ison (Ooltewah, Tenn.) rounded out the offense with eight hitting an average of .412. Redshirt sophomore Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) recorded 58 assists along with 11 digs and three blocks. Person and sophomore Emily Richards (Penfield, N.Y.) led the defensive effort with 18 digs apiece followed by Lewis with 14 and sophomore Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) with 10.
With six aces in set one Belmont came from behind and took the set 25-21. Tech roped together an early eight to one run in the set and took an 11-6 lead. Belmont retaliated taking six of the next seven points to tie the set at 12. The two teams would battle for points, but with the Bruins trailing 21-18 they would string together seven straight to take the set.
Belmont started off set two up 3-1. The Bruins and Golden Eagles would trade off points but Tech roped together seven straight to take the 10-4 advantage. The two teams battle for points once again but Belmont could not string together a run to close the gap. A four point run from Tech put them up 22-14 and despite a battle from the Bruins, Tech would take set two 25-17.
Belmont jumped out early once again in set three and took a 13-5 lead after a six point run with Richards at the service line. Both teams took turns roping together a few points here and there but the Bruins would ultimately go on a five to one run and closed out set three with two kills from Youngdahl.
Set four was a battle from start to finish as both teams took turns going on runs. Belmont led throughout the first portion of the set until a three to one run by the Golden Eagles brought them within one at 12-11. The Bruins retaliated by roping together three straight to take the 17-13 lead. Tech responded taking eight of the next ten points and went up 21-19. Despite a late set push from Belmont Tech would take set four 25-23.
Belmont and Tech went back and forth for points for the first portion of set five seeing multiple lead changes. Tech scored five straight and took an 8-4 lead at the switch. The two teams would play tug-of-war for points as Tech held the lead. Belmont roped together three straight and brought the score to 10-13 but Tech persevered and closed out set five and the match 15-10.
Belmont will close out conference play next week with two final matches. The team travels to Tennessee State on Wednesday Nov. 11 and then to SIU-Edwardsville on Saturday Nov. 14.
