Box Score BOX SCORE SEASON STATS
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Belmont Bruins volleyball team plays in its second five set match of the weekend. Once again their tough fight fell just short dropping the third match of the weekend. The Bruins offense came out fighting with double digit kills in each of the first four sets but the story of the day was unforced errors and the Bruins just could not recover.
Sophomore Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) led the Bruin offense with 19 kills, while Redshirt Junior Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) tallied 15 kills while hitting .239 on the evening. Both Sophomore Emma Price (Fort Mill, SC) and Senior Jocelyn Youngdahl (Stillwater, Minn.) lead the defense with four blocks and Sophomore Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) scooped up 23 digs from the back row.
For the first time this weekend Belmont takes home the first set of the match, by Beating Albany 25-20 to go up 1-0. With 17 kills and two aces the Bruins took control of the offensive to terminate in the first set. Sophomore Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) tallied four kills on eight attempts with no errors hitting for an average of .500 this set. The team took the lead after being tied at 8 with a four point run highlighted by a Vestal kill and three point service run.
Service errors plagued the Bruins in the second set. The two teams' battled point for point up until the Great Danes hit double digits and with nine missed serves Belmont was unable to keep up with the Danes dropping the set 25-13. The Bruins went into the locker room notched at 1. Belmont fell behind early in set four and despite a late surge after trailing 21-15, they was unable to close the gap and take home set three. Final score of set three was 25-22. The Bruins are averaging 14 kills per set, but missed serves and the Danes defense has proven to be the difference maker so far.
The two teams played tug-of-war for points once again in set four with no team holding anything greater then a three point lead. With freshman Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) back to serve the Bruins pull ahead to a 15-12 lead. The two teams continue to battle point for point as Belmont alternates between a two and three point lead with the Great Danes until the Bruins reach 21-17. A late set surge and a 6-0 by the Danes gives Albany a 23-21 lead. After a time-out called by Head Coach Howell the Bruins come back on fire tying the game up at 23. With a huge block by Youngdahl and Price, Mullins heads back to the line once again to close out the set.
Albany takes the early lead in the fifth set going up 5-1 over the Bruins. With a few unforced errors by the Bruins the two teams switched sides with the Danes leading 8-2. With Youngdahl at the service line the Bruins bring the set within four. Unfortunately the Bruins fight falls short losing the fifth set 15-9.
Price was named to the All-Tournament team this weekend. Price posted 12 kills, 98 assists 15 digs and 9 total blocks on the weekend.
Belmont drops to 0-3 as they close out the weekend. The Bruins will return to action next weekend as they host the Bruiser Showcase at the Curb Event Center. Belmont will play their first match of the weekend on Friday September 4th against the University of South Alabama.
