Belmont Volleyball Outlasts Southern Illinois in Five-Set Thriller

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Belmont University volleyball team (16–9, 7–7) capped off its weekend with a statement road win, defeating Southern Illinois in a thrilling five-set battle inside Davies Gym on Saturday evening. Behind standout performances from Brooke Gilleland and Erin McMullen, the Bruins earned their seventh Missouri Valley Conference victory with set scores of 25–16, 20–25, 22–25, 25–14, and 15–12. 

Sticking with the 5–1 system that fueled Friday's sweep of Valparaiso, Belmont came out firing in the opening set. The Bruins built an early nine-point lead behind strong swings, steady defense, and strong serving from McMullen. Connie Kofoed and Gilleland paced the attack with nine combined kills, while the Bruins' clean passing and balanced offense helped them control the tempo throughout the frame. 

Southern Illinois responded in the second and third sets with bigger blocks and faster offensive tempo, but Belmont continued to battle. McMullen and Gilleland turned in huge defensive plays at the net, while contributions off the bench from Lucy Kay provided an added spark. Despite falling in both sets, the Bruins' energy and resilience never wavered. 

Belmont stormed back in set four, led by Alivia Keegan's strong setting and timely serving runs from Madison Lansdown and Gilleland. The Bruins' aggressive attack and sharp defense led to a dominant 25–14 win to force a decisive fifth. 

The final frame proved to be a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points deep into the set. After trailing 8–6 at the switch, Belmont's defense locked in behind McMullen's career night at the net and Gilleland's relentless hitting. The Bruins rallied late with key blocks, clutch digs, and poise under pressure to seal the comeback win, 15–12. 

What's Bruin 

• Brooke Gilleland led all players with 21 kills. 
• Connie Kofoed added 13 kills and a match-high 14 digs. 
• Erin McMullen posted a career-best 10 blocks. 
• Lilly Lutz chipped in 9 digs, anchoring the back row. 

Up Next 

Belmont volleyball heads to Murray, Kentucky, to face Murray State on Thursday, November 13, at 6 p.m. CT inside Racer Arena. 

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.