Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont University Volleyball dug deep on Friday night and pulled off a stunning come from behind win over visiting Austin Peay. The Bruins (12-8, 6-3 OVC) rallied in a five-set thriller to hand the Governors (16-8, 7-2 OVC) only their second loss of the conference season.
The first frame was all Belmont as the Bruins rolled to a 17-7 opening that capitalized on APSU attack errors and tallied kills from juniors Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.), Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.), and Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) and redshirt sophomore Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.). Even with a timeout called, BU would not be slowed as it blew its lead up to 22-9 following back-to-back kills by sophomore Courtlyn Ison (Ooltewah, Tenn.). The Governors rallied, posting three consecutive points to make it a 22-13 score but Belmont powered through the late score to take the set, 25-19.
Sets two and three were a battle of wills between the teams with each claiming a set. Austin Peay snatched the second frame, 25-23, holding off a late Belmont rally. BU took the third set by the same score, after pushing through some tight spots.
The fourth frame saw Belmont jump out to a fast lead before the Governors answered back with a 7-0 run to go up 8-5. BU called timeout to regroup and slowly began to chip away at the AP lead, using a service ace by Lewis to move to within six points, 16-10, and force their opponents to call timeout. However, Austin Peay was able to rebound and stay ahead. Belmont called another timeout, trailing 19-11, but it could find no answer for its unforced errors. Austin Peay claimed six of the final 10 points to take the set, 25-15.
The fifth and final set started with a furious back-and-forth battle before APSU pulled ahead, 6-3, after a pair of kills. The Bruins called for a timeout but the Governors added two more points to force the switch with the score set of 8-4. Austin Peay appeared to have the set and match in hand when it expanded its lead to four, 12-8. However, slowly but steadily, Belmont began to chip away at the point differential. Nichols nailed a kill deep and three consecutive points for the Bruins led by a kill by Person and two APSU errors made it a one-point set, 13-12. The Govs called timeout but the Bruins kept surging. BU only needed one kill and saw its unbelievable come from behind win fall in its lap with two more back-to-back attack errors by the Governors to help them take the set, 15-13.
Lewis led all players with a match-high 17 kills, followed by Nichols who recorded a career-best 16 kills. Lewis also recorded a match-high four service aces. Person added 13 kills and had 17 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Price finished with a match-high 51 assists and 10 digs for her eighth double-double of the season. Junior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) tallied 21 digs, followed by Ison's 17 and junior Emily Richards' (Penfield, N.Y.) total of 14.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday afternoon in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host Murray State beginning at 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.
