Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont University Volleyball came closer to snagging its first win of the season on Monday night in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins (0-2, 0-2 OVC) fell down the stretch to visiting SIUE (2-0, 2-0 OVC), 3-0.
After trading points to open the first frame, the Cougars were able to briefly pull ahead before BU was able to catch up. A pair of extended rallies punctuated with kills by freshmen Ally Peterson (Kenyon, Minn.) and Sophia Hagstrom (Dallas, Texas), moved the Bruins to within three, 14-11. BU continued to improve offensively through the midpoint of the set. Suddenly, kills from junior Carly Mason (Forsyth, Ill.), and senior Mackenzie LePage (Franklin, Tenn.) combined with a block assist from Mason and freshman Kristen Clemons (Louisville, Ky.) put SIUE back on its heels. Belmont had inched to within two points, 21-19, after a 5-0 run and the Cougars were forced to burn a timeout to regroup. Despite the strong surge, BU was unable to clench the remaining points and fell, 25-20.
After a slow start, the Bruins quickly heated up in the second stanza, closing the scoring differential to one point, 7-6. The Bruins used a 3-0 run to knot the score at nine all, with the help of a block assist from seniors Mary Catherine Ball (Hendersonville, N.C.) and LePage. Belmont stayed hot on the Cougars' collective tails through the midpoint of the set, before the visitors were able to grow their lead to five, 20-11, behind a 5-0 flurry. BU called for a timeout but was unable to recapture the heat of the beginning of the frame and fell, 25-14.
The third set saw the teams trade points early once again before SIUE used a quick run to pull ahead. The Bruins burned a timeout after falling into a five-point deficit, 11-6. The brief break gave BU just enough fuel to rally. LePage drilled her first service ace of the match the Bruins were back to within striking distance, trailing 14-11. Belmont pushed to make it a one-point frame, 16-15, and the socially distanced crowd cheered loudly in support. However, SIUE was able to use a late 4-0 rally to pull ahead, 20-15. A pair of kills by Ball was not enough to extend the match into a fourth set as SIUE held on for the 25-19 win.
Clemons led BU with six kills, followed by Ball with a total of five. Mason posted 14 digs and 19 assists for her first double-double of the season. Junior Peyton Kelley (Normal, Ill.) finished with 12 digs.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday, February 14 on the road at UT Martin. First serve is set for 4 p.m. Live stats will be available and the contest can be seen live on ESPN+.
