Volleyball Defeated by UIC on Senior Night

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Taking on one of the most talented teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Belmont University volleyball team kept things close through the first two sets before falling, 3-0, to UIC in the Curb Event Center on Saturday night. 

UIC (17-9, 9-5 MVC) swept Belmont (7-21, 3-12 MVC) 25-21, 25-22, 25-14, to hand the Bruins their tenth straight defeat. 

Kristen Clemons led Belmont's attack with 12 kills on .476 hitting with three blocks, while Laura Shoopman added 11 kills and seven digs. 

Peyton O'Brien dished out 30 assists, helping Belmont hit. 253, their second-highest mark in the month of October.  

One night after collecting her 1,000th career dig, Rachel McBride led the Bruin defense with nine more digs. 

"The last time we played UIC, they didn't really get to see us be very offensive," head coach Katelyn Harrison said. "Tonight, in games one and two especially, we did a really nice job showing them offensively what we can do. That's a team that I thought has been really good over the course of the season, and I think they're probably the number-two team in the conference. We didn't slow them down very well at times, but I think that we matched them, and so I'm really proud of how games one and two went for sure. Game three, we kind of just ran out of gas there at the end." 

The Bruins were able to keep things close throughout each of the first two sets by limiting mistakes and putting together runs from the service line. Belmont forced nine ties and five lead changes, leading the first set 9-7 after a Flame attack error and going punch-for-punch with the visitors to tie things at 14-14. 

A Clemons kill pulled the Bruins to within 21-22, but UIC ended on a 3-0 run to take the first frame. 

In the second set, Belmont hit .294 with 13 kills and only three attack errors, getting big production from Shoopman, who finished with six of her 11 kills in the game. However, four blocks from the Flames hampered things and helped UIC create separation with a 17-12 advantage. 

Belmont cut things to 22-24 on a kill from Ally Peterson, but the Flames got the next point to take a 2-0 lead in sets. 

In the third, UIC hit .469 en route to a 25-14 victory. 

Following the match, Belmont honored their two seniors, Raegan Phillips and Lauren Walsh. 

On the Seniors 

"You immediately want to think volleyball, but for Lauren, I think what she showed this season is that she really tried to take this team and make a legacy that she was proud of when she left. Unfortunately with the injury there was some unfinished business with that, but through the course of her time, I've thought that Lauren has had a lot of tools that have made her a valuable attacker for us. To see her grow has been awesome, and this season she's been just a wonderful leader. Raegan has had a different role, since she's only played in three matches in her career with her injury, but Raegan has been a positive influence on the team and somebody who is so willing to help the team however she could while she was injured. Having her around is wonderful, and I think it's a good reminder to everyone to leave the legacy every match because you're not sure when it might end. But both of them have done a wonderful job, and they'll be greatly missed." --head coach Katelyn Harrison 

Up Next 

Belmont will make their final road trip of the 2022 season with a visit to the Hoosier State to face Indiana State and Evansville next weekend. 

The Bruins will be in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Friday night to take on the Sycamores, and Evansville, Indiana, on Saturday for a tilt with the Purple Aces. 

Both matches will be streamed on ESPN3. 

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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