Belmont vs. Illinois State
Friday Oct. 10 | 6 p.m. CT
Curb Event Center | Nashville, Tenn.
Belmont vs. Indiana State
Saturday Oct. 11 | 5 p.m. CT
Curb Event Center | Nashville, Tenn.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University volleyball (12-3, 3-1 MVC) continues Missouri Valley Conference action with a weekend at home, beginning Friday, Oct. 10, against Illinois State at 6 p.m. CT inside the Curb Event Center.
The Bruins then return to the Curb on Saturday, Oct. 11, to host Indiana State at 5 p.m. CT.
Both matches will stream live on ESPN+.
What's Bruin
- Belmont enters the weekend 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play, earning league wins over Murray State, Evansville, and Southern Illinois.
- In the Bruins' win over Murray State, Lilly Lutz recorded her 1,000th career dig, while Brooke Gilleland reached 1,000 career kills.
- The team opened the 2025 season with a 1-3 loss at Vanderbilt, then bounced back with back-to-back home wins over Seton Hall and UT Martin.
- At the Belmont Invitational, the Bruins went 3-0 with sweeps of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Nicholls State, and Tennessee State, recording the program's first 15-0 consecutive-set streak since 2015.
- Brooke Gilleland was named Invitational MVP, while Lilly Lutz and Emily Warmenhoven also earned All-Tournament Team honors.
- Belmont stayed hot at the Clocktower Tournament, going 3-0 with five-set wins over Siena and Columbia and a sweep of Stonehill.
- Brenna Kauffeld earned MVP honors at the tournament, and both Gilleland and Lutz were again named to the All-Tournament Team.
- Gilleland leads the offense with 192 kills and posted a career-high 27 kills against Siena. She was also recognized as Belmont's September Student-Athlete of the Month.
- Lutz anchors the defense with 237 digs, while setting duties are split between Jordan Czajkowski (312 assists) and Alivia Keegan (260 assists).
- From the service line, the Bruins have totaled 124 aces compared to opponents' 63, led by Gilleland with 24.
- As a team, Belmont is hitting .266 while holding opponents to a .187 average.
- The Bruins are led by first-year head coach Fritz Rosenberg and are competing in their fourth season in the Missouri Valley Conference after finishing 11-19 overall and 6-12 in league play last year.
About The Redbirds
- Illinois State enters the weekend 7–9 overall and 2–2 in MVC play, with conference wins over Indiana State and UIC.
- Freshman setter Ella Craggs was named MVC Freshman of the Week on Oct. 6 after recording 43 assists and 3 blocks against UIC, followed by a career-high 55 assists vs Valparaiso. She leads the Redbirds with 333 assists.
- Fifth-year libero Arianna Rossi anchors the defense with a team-best 263 digs and 12 service aces
- Junior outside hitter Caitlyn Little paces the offense with 153 kills.
- Senior outside hitter Aida Shadewald earned MVC Player of the Week honors on Sept. 1.
- Illinois State is led by head coach Allie Matters, now in her fourth season.
- The Redbirds finished 17–16 overall and 11–7 in MVC play in 2024.
About The Sycamores
- Indiana State stands at 8–8 overall and 2–2 in conference play.
- Freshman outside hitter Ava Robart has registered 183 kills and earned back-to-back MVC Freshman of the Week honors on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.
- Junior outside hitter Kira Holland leads the Sycamores with 235 kills and was named Indiana State's Student-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 22.
- Freshman setter Hadley Hardersen was also recognized as MVC Freshman of the Week earlier this season on Sept. 1.
- Sophomore libero Chloe Gilley leads the defense with 211 digs.
- Head coach Ashlee Pritchard is in her third season guiding the Sycamores, who finished 5–25 overall and 2–16 in MVC play last year.
Follow Along
Both matches will be streamed Live at ESPN+
Live stats are available at BelmontBruins.com
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 Belmont athletic programs via the official Belmont Bruins app, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
