Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont Volleyball (0-1) was eager to shake the rust of inactivity off after 460 days away from playing in the friendly confines of the Curb Event Center. The Bruins hosted SIUE (1-0) on Sunday afternoon. Despite strong challenges in each set, the Cougars held off BU, 3-0.
The Cougars pounced first to make a dent on the scoreboard in the first set, building a 10-point lead, 14-4. After the media timeout, Belmont slowly began chipping away at the deficit but could not keep pace and fell in the first, 25-14.
After an early lead, the Bruins were able to find more of a groove in the second stanza and used back-to-back aces by newcomer Ally Peterson (Kenyon, Minn.) to close the score to one point, 12-11. Belmont continued to remain within striking distance for the majority of the set. BU saw impressive kills from newcomers Peterson and Kristen Clemons (Louisville, Ky.) that narrowed the gap down the stretch but BU was held off, 25-18.
Bruins came storming back in the early portion of the third frame and knotted the score. BU battled to keep within two points of the Cougars until the visitors were able to gain some breathing room by the media timeout, 15-9. Belmont rallied to within four points, 19-15, before SIUE pulled away once more. The Bruins surged one final time in the waning points, fueled by kills from Peterson, freshman Sophia Hagstrom (Dallas, Texas), and junior Carly Mason (Forsyth, Ill.). The effort narrowed the differential to four points once more, this time at 22-18. Another kill, the first of Sydney Willis' (Old Hickory, Tenn.) collegiate career, inched the Bruins closer but it was not enough as the Cougars took the final set, 25-19.
A trio of newcomers led the way for BU in kills, led by Hagstrom with eight. Rookies Peterson and Clemons each tallied seven in their first collegiate outing. Mason posted 16 assists and freshman Rachel McBride (Decatur, Ind.) finished with a match-high 18 digs.
Belmont returns to action on Monday versus SIUE. First serve is set for 5 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. Live stats will be available.
