Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Not even a late rally by their opponent could keep Belmont Volleyball from picking up its second win of the weekend on Saturday. The Bruins (11-9, 6-2 OVC) blew by visiting Southeast Missouri State (7-15, 2-6 OVC), 3-0, in the Curb Event Center to improve to 6-2 in OVC play.
A steady start to the first frame opened the door for back-to-back kills by senior Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) to put Belmont ahead, 6-3. The Redhawks called timeout after BU exploded behind kills from seniors Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) and Lewis, graduate student Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) and freshman Mackenzie LePage (Franklin, Tenn.) to grab an 18-10 advantage. The brief break in the action did little to slow the Bruins as they continued to pile on the points down the stretch. Kills by Person, Vestal and Lewis handed the set to BU, 25-18.
BU resumed its heavy point production from the start of the second stanza, jumping out to a 9- lead before the Redhawks could call their first timeout. The brief break did not hobble the Bruin intensity as the team built on an 11-1 run, to go up 20-6. Belmont absolutely dominated the set, only allowing Southeast Missouri State to add four more points. The Bruins easily rolled to the 25-10 win. The mere 10 points allowed are the fewest an opponent has scored in a set this season against Belmont.
Southeast Missouri State saw a complete reversal of fortune in the third set, taking advantage of unforced errors to knot the score and take the lead, 8-7, for the first time since the opening frame. The Bruins regained the lead, 13-11, behind a kill by Person and a Redhawk service error. Unfortunately, it would be short lived. The teams would go on to be tied 11 times as SEMO struggled to make a mark down the stretch and sneak a set away from Belmont. Locked at 20-20, neither team would call a timeout to give the other an opportunity to strategize.
BU surged to a 23-20 lead behind a service ace by Vestal, a kill by Person and an SEMO ball handling error. A Redhawk attack error lifted the Bruins to match point as junior Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) smashed the kill for the win, 25-21.
Person finished with a match-high 13 kills. Junior Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) recorded 36 assists and senior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) notched a match-high 13 digs. Vestal tallied a pair of service aces.
Belmont returns to action on October 19, opening a five-match road swing at in-state rival Austin Peay. Match time is set for 6 p.m. Live stats will be available and the match can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network. Fans may also follow the team's Twitter account (@BelmontVB) for live, in-game updates.
