Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Despite a vigorous comeback effort in the third set, Belmont Volleyball was unable to topple one of the top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins (12-11, 6-6 OVC) were held off 3-0 by SIUE (17-6, 10-2 OVC) in the Curb Event Center.
The teams traded points early in the opening set before SIUE grabbed a two-point advantage, 9-7. The Bruins surged and rolled off five straight points to pull ahead, 11-9. A stunned Cougar bench called timeout to regroup. Soon, the score would be tied four times before SIUE went up, 19-17. BU called for a timeout to restrategize and remained in striking distance down the stretch. The Bruins closed the gap to three, 23-20, following a kill by sophomore Courtlyn Ison (Ooltewah, Tenn.) but SIUE was able to push for the 25-21 set win.
The Cougars got off to a quick start to the second frame, even after junior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) opened with an ace on her first time behind the serving line. SIUE responded by pulling ahead 10-6 before the Bruins called timeout. Belmont continued to claw at the lead down the stretch but SIUE never let BU get closer than two points. A kill by Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) made it a two-point set, 21-19. SIUE inched closer to taking the set but the Bruins continued to fight. Freshman Keely Hardin (Round Rock, Texas) drilled a service ace into the left corner and lifted the Bruins to their 22nd point. Ahead only by two, 24-22, SIUE called its second timeout. After the brief break, the Cougars had to use a very long rally to outpace Belmont for the final point of the set to win, 25-22.
The Bruins attempted to rally early in the third frame, forcing eight ties. However, SIUE roared back and notched five consecutive points to pull away, 13-9, as Belmont called its first timeout. The Cougars could only grow their lead to as many as four points, 20-16, before BU battled back to close the gap. A service ace by junior Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) helped rally the Bruins to knot the score, 21-21, forcing the Cougars to burn back-to-back timeouts after a kill by junior Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) and another service ace by Price. The score would be tied six more times before the Cougars were able to secure the 29-27 win, capitalizing on back-to-back attack errors by the Bruins.
Person led the Bruins with a match-high 18 kills. She also recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 12 digs. Price tallied a match-high 34 assists while Ivancich added 16 digs. Price and Ivancich both notched a pair of service aces.
BU returns to action on Friday, November 4 with a match on the road at Jacksonville State. Live stats will be available. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontVB) for live, in-game updates.
