Belmont Volleyball Battles Top-Ranked UNI on Senior Night

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University volleyball team (17–10, 8–8) closed its regular-season home slate on Saturday evening, battling league-leading Northern Iowa in a competitive four-set matchup inside the Curb Event Center. Behind standout performances from Brenna Kauffeld and Lilly Lutz, the Bruins struck first before UNI came back to take the match, 3–1.

Belmont opened the night with one of its sharpest sets of the season, setting the tone early with high energy, strong blocking, and efficient swings. Kauffeld dominated the opening frame with five kills and five blocks, while Alexia Smollen added key stops at the net. Lilly Lutz anchored the defense with reads off the block and timely digs, helping Belmont edge ahead late. With the set tied 22–22, a kill from Connie Kofoed sparked the final push as the Bruins secured a 25–22 win to go up 1–0. 

The second frame remained tight throughout, with Belmont answering early UNI pressure behind a block from Kauffeld and an ace from Brooke Gilleland. Lutz, Kofoed, and Gilleland turned in big defensive plays to keep the Bruins within reach, but a late run from the Panthers allowed them to even the match, 25–22. 

UNI captured the momentum in the third, capitalizing on a series of Belmont errors to pull away early. Despite sparks off the bench from Emily Warmenhoven and Alivia Keegan and a big block from Gilleland, the Bruins struggled to connect consistently in serve receive and transition, falling 25–11. 

Belmont responded with grit in the fourth, racing out to an 8–3 lead behind strong blocks from Erin McMullen and Kauffeld. The Bruins controlled much of the set before UNI made a late comeback, tying the frame at 23–23. After a dramatic reverse call extended the set, Belmont forced extra points but ultimately fell 26–24 in a hard-fought finish. 

What's Bruin 

• Brenna Kauffeld led all players with 15 kills while adding a match-high 8 blocks.
• Lilly Lutz posted a team-high 20 digs, continuing to anchor the back row. 
• Jordan Czajkowski directed the offense with 37 assists, the highest total in the match. 

Up Next 

Belmont volleyball has officially earned the No. 6 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and will travel to Des Moines for quarterfinal action. 
No. 3 seed Drake will host the Bruins on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. CT inside the Knapp Center. 

Follow Belmont volleyball on social media – @BelmontVB on X (Twitter) and @belmontvball on Instagram – for complete coverage. Stay up to date with all Belmont athletics through the official Belmont Bruins app, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.