Box Score MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Belmont Volleyball team (2-0) leaned on its championship level experience to hold off an upstart Chicago State (0-2) team on Friday at the Memphis Invitational. The Bruins defeated the Cougars in three sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-18), to sweep their first day of competition.
BU jumped to an early 5-1 lead, fueled by four straight points accumulated with junior Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) serving. The Bruins blew their lead up to five points, 11-6, before the Cougars surged and inched to within two points, 12-10. Belmont pulled away by as many as four down the stretch, 19-15, before finally turning on the afterburners and cruising to the 25-20 win in set one.
Belmont again had an early lead over Chicago State in set two, going up 6-3, but this time the Cougars seemed in better position to answer the hot-hitting Bruins. CSU stayed within two points midway through the set before the Bruins broke away behind a six-point run that put the Bruins ahead, 18-11. CSU had no answers for the Bruins at the net either with freshman Hannah Hickman (The Woodlands, Texas) contributing on several of her eventual six block assists in this set. Back-to-back kills by junior Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) sealed the 25-17 set victory.
CSU showed signs of life in the third set, pulling ahead 7-4 before the Bruins returned to form. Belmont was able to knot the score, 10-10, after a service ace by junior Emma Price (Fort Mill, S.C.) and a free point awarded after the Cougars failed to rotate on the court. Chicago State fought hard to hold on to a narrow lead down the stretch but BU stayed within striking distance. The upstart Cougars were no match for the more experienced Belmont as the match wore on. Belmont knotted the set at 18 behind a resounding kill by freshman Hickman and a CSU attack error. BU opened up a seven-point run to pull away, 23-18. Belmont was able to use the momentum and secure the 25-18 win to take the match.
Lewis led all players with a match-high 11 kills. Hickman and Person followed with nine kills apiece. Person also tallied five service aces in the contest. Price, who moved into fourth all-time at Belmont in assists after today's first match, finished with a match-high 34 assists.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for the final day of the Memphis Invitational. The Bruins take on the host-Tigers beginning at 2 p.m. Live stats and video will both be available. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontVB) for live, in-game updates.
