NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University Volleyball Program (12-17, 6-9 MVC) faced Missouri State (13-14, 7-8 MVC) in five-set thriller to close out the regular season at home. The Bruins finished on top and snap five game losing streak.
How it Happened
Missouri State came out strong to start the first. Belmont trailed until putting together a 4-0 run off three kills by
Brooke Gilleland to take the lead at 10-9. Both teams continued to trade big swings and with a kill from
Laura Shoopman, the Bruins continued their lead at 16-14. Missouri State then went on a 7-0 run to gain momentum and would later finish the set on top 19-25.
Belmont came out hot in the second. Gilleland added another kill and block to help the Bruins race to a 7-1 lead. The Bears put together a run of their own to even the score at 10 all. The rest of the set was a battle.
Kamryn Olson served up an ace followed by a block from Shoopman to even the score again at 15-15. The battle continued where Missouri State eventually took set two 22-25.
The Bruins started set three off strong. Olson served another ace to push Belmont to a 6-2 early lead. Gilleland rattled off two more kills to spark a 4-0 run for the Bruins midway through the set at 15-9. Missouri State pushed back with a late run to even the score at 23 all.
Missy Sterkel put one away to help the Bruins finish a gritty set three on top 25-23.
Set four was a game of runs as both teams put up aggressive swings and tough defense. Shoopman and
Sydney Willis teamed up for a block followed by a kill from Shoopman to give the Bruins an edge at 15-11. The Bears then went on a run to reclaim the lead at 16-15. Belmont ended the Missouri State run and with back-to-back kills from
Kristen Clemons, the Bruins were back on top at 19-16. The Bruins continued to battle and take the fourth set 25-22.
Missouri State had the hot start in the fifth. The Bears jumped to a quick 5-8 lead before Clemons and Sterkel came up with a huge block to get the Bruins back in it.
Emily Warmenhoven hammered three kills home to help Belmont regain the lead at 14-12. The Bruins would go on to take a hard-fought fifth set and match 15-13.
What's Bruin
Brooke Gilleland recorded a career high 23 kills in match versus Missouri State.
Rachel McBride tallied 65 digs while averaging 7.22 digs per set this weekend. McBride now sits at second for career digs in program history.
Kamryn Olson ran the Bruin offense with 74 assists this weekend.
Sydney Willis recorded 12 total blocks while averaging 1.44 blocks per set this weekend.
Up Next
The Bruins will hit the road for another conference weekend with matches versus Evansville and Indiana State. Belmont will face Evansville on Friday at 6 p.m. CT followed by a Saturday match versus ISU at 6 p.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats can be found on belmontbruins.com.
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