Box Score COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont University Volleyball powered through three sets to defeat in-state rival Tennessee Tech on the road. The Bruins (14-11, 8-6 OVC) breezed by the Golden Eagles (7-20, 3-11 OVC) for the second time this season to earn the 3-0 win.
After a slow start, the Bruins ramped up the intensity in the opening set and pulled away 14-10, following kills by sophomores Tori Simmons (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) and Courtlyn Ison (Ooltewah, Tenn.). Tennessee Tech was able to knot the score at 14 but Belmont fired back and rebuilt its lead. The Golden Eagles surged once again, tying the score 18-18, and BU called a timeout to restrategize for the remainder of the set. The score would be tied six more times before the Bruins gained the edge. Kills by Mullins, Nichols and junior Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) sealed the 28-26 win.
Tennessee Tech built an early 7-2 lead in the second frame, taking advantage of a series of BU attack errors. Belmont called timeout and came out swinging out of the brief break, going on a 9-1 run. The Golden Eagle bench called timeout to try to slow down the streaking Bruins but it did not work. Back-to-back kills by Ison gave Belmont its first lead of the set before a thunderous cross court kill by Person put BU ahead, 14-11, forcing Tennessee Tech to call timeout. As BU rapidly approached the 20 point threshold, TTU attempted to rally but the Bruins were firing on all cylinders. However, the Bruins would not be denied down the stretch. Powered by kills coming from Nichols and Person, BU closed the set on a 5-1 run to win it, 25-18.
In the third frame, BU continued to find answers for everything Tennessee Tech threw at it. Belmont pulled ahead 11-8 and the Golden Eagles burned their first timeout of the set. A brief Golden Eagle rally was squelched as the Bruins stretched their lead. TTU called its final timeout as BU went ahead, 18-12 after a service ace by junior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.). A solo block by Nichols put Belmont on top, 21-12, and used kills by Simmons, Nichols and Person to take the set, 25-15.
Nichols tallied a match and career-high 18 kills in the win. She also notched a pair of solo blocks. Person finished with a double-double of 12 kills and 16 digs. Junior Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) tallied 42 assists while four Bruins recorded double digit digs, led by Ivancich's 26. Mullins added 13 digs and Simmons finished with 11.
Belmont returns to action on Friday, November 11 at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host Eastern Kentucky beginning at 6 p.m. The match can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and live stats will also be available. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontVB) for live, in-game updates.
