Box Score CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- For the third time this season, Belmont Volleyball was forced into a fifth and deciding set to settle a match. Unfortunately, it marked the first time the Bruins (10-7, 4-3 OVC) did not come out on top, falling 3-2, on the road at Southeast Missouri State (3-18, 2-5 OVC).
Belmont pulled out an early 5-1 lead behind kills by juniors Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) and Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) before Southeast Missouri State called timeout. The Redhawks began to rally and closed the gap to one point, 10-9, and soon grabbed the reigns of the set. By the midpoint of the opening set, BU had burned both of its timeouts and trailed 18-14. A pair of Bruin attack errors helped move SEMO to 20 points first but Belmont dug in to rally late. A block by redshirt sophomore Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) and junior Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) forced Southeast Missouri State to call timeout with BU in striking distance, 21-19. Despite remaining on the Redhawks' heels for the final points, SEMO was able to hold on for the 25-21 win.
The second frame opened with a Belmont block party with Person, Lewis, and freshman Hannah Hickman (The Woodlands, Texas) all contributing. The Bruins went up 5-0 early, after a Price service ace, and SEMO was forced to call timeout. BU continued with its block party and used kills by Nichols and Person to increase its lead to 13-8. The Bruins began to pull away down the stretch and expanded its lead to as many as eight points, 20-12. SEMO attempted to spark a rally behind a pair of service aces but Belmont refused to relinquish its lead and doubled down for the final points of the set. With sophomore Tori Simmons (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) serving, Belmont had set point in its sights. A kill by Person into the right corner handed BU the 25-19 win.
The Redhawks got off to a hot start to open the third set, going up 6-1 before Belmont called timeout to regroup. The Bruins began to slowly chip away at the SEMO, using a service ace by junior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) and kills by Person, Hickman and Lewis. BU moved to within two, 12-10, following a block by Price and Hickman and kept battling through the midpoint of the frame. The Redhawks used a combined of kills and Bruin attack errors to pull ahead, 18-13. With the deficit, Belmont called a timeout and came out swinging after the brief break. SEMO reached set point but BU railed off four straight points to make them call timeout in hopes of preserving its 24-19 lead. However, the Redhawks were able to collect one last point to go up 2-1 in sets.
BU repeated the hot start in the fourth set, going up 5-3, propelled by blocks. The Redhawks rallied and knotted the set at 9-9 and used a service ace to take its first lead. Belmont called timeout and immediately saw kills by Person help the team regain the lead. SEMO battled back and forced three ties before Belmont broke away and went up, 19-17, after Redhawk attack errors. The Bruins were the first to reach 20 points but Southeast continued to threaten. However, BU was able to capitalize on SEMO errors and used a block Courtlyn Ison (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Person to seal the 25-22 win.
At the top of the fifth frame, the teams fell into an intense back-and-forth battle before Belmont pulled ahead, 5-3, behind a kill by Ison. The Redhawks answered back and took the lead, 6-5, forcing the Bruins to call timeout. The back-and-forth resumed
Belmont dug in its collective heels and followed behind a kill by Nichols and a block by Nichols and Lewis to go up, 10-6. The Redhawks called timeout and added two quick points to close the gap to 10-8. SEMO went on to knot the set at 11 and roll off three straight points to move within striking distance of taking the match. A kill that fell between players on the left side sealed the 15th point and handed the Redhawks the match victory.
Price led all players, matching her season-best of 52 assists. She also notched a double-double, her sixth of the season, with 22 digs. Person also notched a double-double, her sixth of the season, with a match-high 19 kills and 18 digs. Ivancich recorded a career-best 31 digs and four service aces in the effort.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday with a stop at in-state rival UT Martin. Match time is set for 2 p.m. The contest can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and live stats will be available. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontVB) for live, in-game updates.
