Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Despite a strong push in the second set, Belmont Volleyball was unable to topple Jacksonville State in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins (1-9 OVC) fell to the undefeated Gamecocks (10-0), 3-0, on Monday.
Set one saw the teams trade points intitially before JSU grabbed a four-point lead, 11-7, and never looked back. By the media timeout, the Gamecocks were ahead, 15-8, fueled by a 4-0 run. After the brief break, Belmont saw kills from sophomore Laura Shoopman (Salem, Wisc.) and freshman Sophia Hagstrom (Dallas, Texas) down the stretch but was unable to catch up. The visitors took the frame, 25-15.
Belmont started hotter in the second stanza, racing to move within striking distance early with the help of a kill from Lauren Walsh (Torrance, Calif.). JSu put together a 5-0 run to pull away, 10-5. Sparks from freshman Sydney Willis (Franklin, Tenn.) and junior Taylor Floyd (Louisville, Ky.) looked to narrow the gap as the Bruins headed into the media break trailing, 15-9. Later, kills from freshman Kristen Clemons (Louisville, Ky.) and Walsh helped but could not close the gap as JSU took the set, 25-13.
Even with a strong 7-0 run to start the third set, Belmont was able to rally down the stretch. By the media timeout, BU had moved to within eight, 13-5. Two late flurries pushed Jacksonville State ahead, 20-10. The Bruins used kills from junior Carly Mason (Forsyth, Ill.), Walsh and Shoopman to close the gap. Belmont was able to rally with a 4-0 run, built off Gamecock errors. The quick run moved BU to within eight, 23-15. The home team was able to net two more points but it was not enough as JSU took the final set, 25-18.
For the match, Shoopman and Walsh led BU offensively with seven kills apiece. Six other Bruins notched two kills each. Freshman Izzy Schauer (Watertown, Wisc.) finished with nine assists while classmate Rachel McBride (Decatur, Ind.) recorded 11 digs. Clemons also logged three block assists.
BU returns to the road for a pair of matches this weekend, March 14-15, traveling to Morehead State.
