Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Perhaps it was the winning feeling in the atmosphere that helped lift Belmont University Volleyball to its first sweep of the season on Monday evening. The Bruins (3-11 OVC) defeated crosstown rival Tennessee State (2-12 OVC) in straight sets, 3-0.
Despite the tightness of the score, the first set belonged to BU. The Bruins came out hot and by the media timeout had wedged three points between them and the Lady Tigers. After the break, Belmont surged behind kills from freshman Kristen Clemons (Louisville, Ky.) juniior Taylor Floyd (Louisville, Ky.) and senior Halee Van Poppel (Argyle, Texas). A 4-0 run gave the home team a 20-26 lead and Tennessee State was forced to call timeout. BU kept pounding and used a kill by sophomore Laura Shoopman (Salem, Wisc.) to reach set point. Van Poppel was able to seal the 25-22 win with a deep kill.
In the second frame, the Lady Tigers pushed early to play catch-up after Belmont grew a five-point lead, 12-7. After the media timeout, Belmont continued to keep TSU at arms length. A 3-0 run put the home team ahead, 17-11, and Tennessee State called for a break in the action. The visitors emerged from the break, grabbing the first point but Belmont regained control. TSU attack errors lifted Belmont to a 24-18 lead and Floyd came through with the final kill to give BU the set victory.
In the most hotly contested set of the night, Tennessee State narrowly led early. The score was knotted nine times before the Lady Tigers pulled ahead by three, 15-12, at the media break. Belmont battled back and closed the gap to one point, 18-17, forcing the visitors to burn a timeout. The Bruins gained the lead after the break and pulled ahead, 21-19 after back-to-back kills by Floyd and Clemons. The flurry saw TSU call its final timeout, however, the pause did not slow the Bruins. Kills by senior MacKenzie Harless (Brownsburg, Ind.) and Floyd helped seal the 25-23 win.
For the night, Floyd and Van Poppel posted 14 and 12 kills, respectively. Freshman Izzy Schauer (Watertown, Wisc.) finished with a match-high 33. Van Poppel also led the team in digs with a total of 14. Clemons and Van Poppel each posted a solo block. Freshman Rachel McBride (Decatur, Ind.) recorded three service aces.
Belmont returns to action this weekend to conclude the regular season. The Bruins travel for a pair of matches at Tennessee Tech, March 28 and 29.
