Four Bruins With Double-Digit Kills as Volleyball Defeats Grambling State

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Four Bruins finished with double-digit kills to help the Belmont University volleyball team soar to a 3-1 victory over Grambling State on Saturday at the Blue Raider Invitational in Murfreesboro. 

Belmont (2-8, 0-0 MVC) downed Grambling State (2-7, 0-0 SWAC), 25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, to end their weekend at Alumni Memorial Gym with a victory. 

Laura Shoopman finished with 20 kills and 11 digs, Kristen Clemons picked up 15 kills and five blocks, Ally Peterson tallied 12 kills and a career-high 15 digs, and Brooke Gilleland chipped in ten kills. 

Peyton O'Brien was outstanding in running the Bruin offense, finishing with a career-high 47 assists and a career-high 16 digs to go along with five blocks and four kills. 

Shoopman was named to the All-Tournament team after finishing the weekend with 54 kills and 4.50 kills per set on an efficient .302 hitting mark. 

With her 20 kills, the junior outside hitter from Salem, Wisc., hit the 20-kill plateau for the fourth time this season and did it in back-to-back matches for the first time in 2022. 

Belmont hit .315 for the match, picking up 63 digs and eight blocks to eclipse the Tigers in all three categories. 

"It feels good to know what we're capable of and know that everyone can come together, play as one, and get the job done," junior outside hitter Ally Peterson said. "If we have a little dip, we can come back from that and both start strong and finish strong—get the three sets and get it done." 

In the first set, the strong attacking combination of Shoopman and Clemons led the way for Belmont, as the two combined for nine kills on 20 swings to held the Bruins take the frame, 25-17.  

Belmont continued their strong form in the second frame, getting five more kills from Shoopman and four from Peterson to close out Grambling State, 25-21. 

After the Tigers rallied for a third set win, Belmont got back to their earlier ways and coasted to a 25-18 victory in the fourth set to clinch the match, getting multiple kills from five Bruins with O'Brien dishing out 12 assists. 
Final Word

??? Hear from Ally Peterson (@AllyPeterson5) on today's win, what led to her collecting a career-high 15 digs, being a veteran on a young team, and how the team can use this momentum into next weekend ??#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/v9mse9cVJl
— Belmont Volleyball (@BelmontVB) September 10, 2022
 

??? Hear from head coach Katelyn Harrison on the victory, her team's offensive balance, and how big the back row defense was this afternoon ??#ItsBruinTime pic.twitter.com/OI2YwLzvaT
— Belmont Volleyball (@BelmontVB) September 10, 2022
 

Up Next 

Belmont will complete their non-conference schedule by competing in the Tiger Invitational next weekend, hosted by Tennessee State. The Bruins will face Tennessee State on Thursday, Sept. 15 before taking on both Bethune-Cookman and Alcorn State on Friday, Sept. 16. 

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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