War Eagle Invitational Preview

Belmont (2-5) vs. Nicholls State (6-3) | Friday, Sept. 17 | 10:00 a.m.

Live Stats

Belmont (2-5) vs. Florida A&M (5-4) | Friday, Sept. 17 | 5:30 p.m.

Live Stats

Belmont (2-5) vs. Auburn (6-0) | Saturday, Sept. 18 | 1:30 p.m.

SEC Network+ | Live Stats

Auburn Arena | Auburn, Alabama

NASHVILLE, TENN. -- Belmont University volleyball heads to The Plains this weekend to take part in one final non-conference tournament, the War Eagle Invitational hosted by Auburn University. 

The Bruins will face Nicholls State in the opener on Friday morning at 10 a.m. before taking on Florida A&M later on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Belmont wraps up the weekend with a headliner clash against SEC foe Auburn on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. 

Saturday's contest against Auburn will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Live stats will be available for the two matches against Nicholls State and Florida A&M. 

What's Bruin 

• After opening up the season with wins over Alcorn State and North Alabama, the Bruins have lost five in a row 

• Their last time out, Belmont dropped a gritty 3-0 decision to rival Lipscomb on Tuesday night at Allen Arena in the 45th edition of the Battle of the Boulevard 

• The Bruins are currently ranked 3rd in the Ohio Valley Conference in blocks per set (2.33). Kailee Bass leads the Belmont net defense, accounting for 1.10 blocks per set, the third best mark in the conference 

• Rachel McBride is currently ranked 5th in the OVC in digs per set (4.61) 

• Lauren Walsh made her season-debut on Tuesday night against Lipscomb after missing the first six matches of the season with an injury. The junior from Torrance, Calif., tied for the team-high with seven kills. 

• When the Bruins face Auburn on Saturday, they will be looking for their second-ever win over an SEC opponent. In 2013, Belmont beat Mississippi State, 3-0, in the Curb Event Center. 

• Belmont is 1-8 all-time against the SEC. The last time the Bruins faced an SEC opponent, they were swept 3-0 by Tennessee in 2018. 

• Belmont and Nicholls State have met one prior time—in 2005, the Colonels swept the Bruins, 3-0 

• Friday's matchup between Belmont and Florida A&M will be the first all-time matchup between the two programs 

About the Colonels 

• Nicholls State won five of their first six matches before dropping two out of three at the Jax State Invitational in Jacksonville, Ala., last weekend 

• The Colonels were swept by both Jacksonville State and South Alabama, but got a five-set win over Southern Mississippi to salvage the weekend 

• Aaliyah Burras leads the Southland Conference in both service aces (14) and hitting percentage (.350) 

• Nicholls State was picked to finish last in the Southland Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll 

About the Rattlers 

• Florida A&M is 5-1 on neutral courts this season, and has yet to play any home matches 

• The Rattlers have big wins over Jacksonville, Charleston Southern, and USC Upstate, among others 

• Dominque Washington, the reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, has a team-high 163 kills on the season. Washington also leads the Rattlers in blocks (16.0) and is second on the team in digs (136)). 

• Florida A&M swept the SWAC awards this past week, with Jessa Long earning Defensive Player of the Week and Irem Ucar getting Setter of the Week in addition to Washington's offensive award 

About the Tigers 

• At 6-0, Auburn is off to their best start since 2012 

• Prior to a five-set win over Santa Clara in their last match, the Tigers had swept the first five matches of the season, the longest streak to open up a season for Auburn since 1974 

• Senior libero Bella Rosenthall was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after totaling 45 digs over two matches against North Alabama and Santa Clara 

• Auburn was winless in the shortened spring 2021 season, going 0-8 in a conference-only schedule 

Up Next 

Belmont will begin conference play with a home match against Tennessee State on Tuesday, Sept. 21. When they return to the Curb Event Center, it will be the Bruins' first home contest since Sept. 4, seven matches ago. 

Follow Belmont volleyball on social media - @BelmontVB on Twitter and @belmontvball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. 

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